The Montreal Impact may have been the underdog when the tournament started, but the team is now one game away from the Champions League title, with the biggest game in club history set for 8pm this Wednesday, April 29, at Olympic Stadium.
Here are the Top 3 reasons why this game will go down in the annals of soccer history in North America:
IMFC is treading in unchartered territory as the first club from Canada in the Champions League finals, surpassing TFC’s semifinals appearance back in 2011-2012, who got hammered 7-3 on aggregate. As such, this series currently represents the best showing ever by a team from north of the border in the tournament.
A win on Wednesday would not only mean that the Bleu-blanc-noir becomes the only Canadian team to ever win the title, but also the first MLS club to win the trophy. Real Salt Lake is the only other MLS side to make the final series, losing 3-2 on aggregate after travelling to Monterrey in 2011 and earning a 2-2 draw on Mexican soil in the first leg before falling 1-0 at home in the second.
As such, Major League Soccer, its clubs and all its fans have shown unprecedented solidarity in throwing their support behind the Impact, in hopes that MLS will finally have its first ever Champions League title holder. You can join the support on social media by using the hashtag: #MLS4MONTREAL.
FIFA Club World Cup! On the line for the tournament winner is a trip to Japan in December to represent CONCACAF in the FIFA Club World Cup, playing against top clubs from across all regions to crown the best club team in the world. The most prestigious of the Champions League tournaments is currently in the semifinal stages in Europe, with soccer giants Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich still in the hunt to represent UEFA in Tokyo.
Could we see IMFC play the likes of Ronaldo, Messi or Pirlo later this year? The answer to that question will come on Wednesday night.
