Mexican quartet vie for ticket to Japan

Getty Images

Four teams, just one dream: to represent the North, Central America and Caribbean Zone at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016. Whatever happens, however, it will be a Mexican club – with all four of the semi-finalists in the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League hailing from the Aztecanation.

Holders Club America will be determined to continue their title defence into the final, though they must first dispose of Santos Laguna – twice finalists themselves. Competition first-timers Queretaro, for their part, are aiming to extend a dream debut campaign when they clash with mighty Tigres – Mexico’s domestic champs and runners-up in the 2015 Copa Libertadores.

FIFA.com takes a closer look at the action ahead, prior to the semi-final first-leg encounters.

The fixtures Queretaro - Tigres
Tuesday 15 March, Estadio La Corregidora, Queretaro (Mexico)

Queretaro began their first-ever tilt for this trophy on the front foot and are now just two matches away from the title decider. A team with a blend of youth and experience, they can count on the firepower of Emanuel Villa – the competition’s six-goal leading scorer. Los Gallos Blancos – under the guiding hand of proven winner Victor Manuel Vucetich – are fully focused on taking advantage of their notable teamwork in the first leg at home, though taming Tigres will be no easy feat. The latter boast one of the strongest squads in Mexican football and have international experience in spades.  

Santos Laguna – CF America
Wednesday 16 March, Estadio TSM Corona, Torreon (Mexico)

Both America and Santos Laguna came through their quarter-final ties in emphatic fashion, Las Águilas ousting Seattle Sounders 5-3 over two legs and Santos 4-0 aggregate victors over LA Galaxy. America too have the added morale boost of Sunday’s win in the clásico nacional versus Guadalajara, while their midfield is in particularly fine fettle: Michael Arroyo is the club’s three-goal top scorer in this Champions League campaign, while Rubens Sambueza leads the competition’s assists charts with six.

Los Guerreros, for their part, also won in domestic action and will be relying on Djaniny Tavares to lead their charge. The striker has netted four times in the Champions League and has 17 shots on goal to his name, more than any other forward.

The duel 
Martin Bravo versus Hugo Gonzalez, a form duo with points to prove 
Scorer of a brace in the quarter-final second leg versus LA Galaxy and also on target in domestic action on Friday, Santos’ Argentinian striker Martin Bravo has earned a starting berth on the back of his purple patch in front of goal. However, in the upcoming semi-final he could well find himself facing a man on a mission in America keeper Hugo Gonzalez – recently between the sticks for Las Águilas in place of the experienced Moises Munoz. The 25-year-old Gonzalez is determined to cement his own starting spot with the most successful club in CONCACAF Champions League history and, if selected, would do his utmost to ensure Bravo’s hot streak comes to an abrupt end.

Did you know?
Queretaro’s Edgar Benitez is edging closer to appearing in his third final in this competition, the Paraguayan having won the trophy in 2010 with Pachuca and finished second in 2014 when at Toluca.

The stat 
91 – The number of shots at goal that Santos Laguna have taken over the course of the CONCACAF Champions League 2015/16, more than any other team. As a result, Los Guerreros are also the competition’s leading scorers, with a total of 16. 

What they said“We’re a team that never stops running and we give it our all. As far as we’re concerned, all our remaining games are finals against big teams.”
Emanuel Villa, in an exclusive chat with FIFA.com

“We have a date with history.”
This message featured in a YouTube video of the Santos Laguna players in the build-up to the America tie.