Real Salt Lake Begins Champions Cup Journey Against Herediano

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica (Feb. 19, 2025) – Real Salt Lake (RSL) kicks off its 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign Wednesday against Costa Rican Apertura champions CS Herediano. The match is set for a 4:30 p.m. MT kickoff at Estadio Nacional, San José. This will be RSL’s first continental competition appearance since 2016.

RSL enters the tournament with high hopes after finishing third in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer last season with 59 points. ‘We are excited to be back on the continental stage and have prepared well for this challenge,’ RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni said. ‘Herediano is a formidable opponent, and we must be at our best to advance.’

The teams previously met in the 2012 CONCACAF Champions League, where RSL lost a group stage match 0-1 at Estadio Nacional. ‘We have a different team now and will approach this match with confidence,’ said RSL midfielder Albert Rusnák. ‘It’s an opportunity to rewrite the past.’ RSL’s overall record in CONCACAF Champions League matches stands at 11 wins, 5 losses, and 6 draws (11-5-6).

Following Wednesday’s match, RSL will head to San Jose, California, to kick off its 21st MLS season against the Earthquakes on Feb. 22. RSL hopes to build on its momentum from a record-setting 2024 season, which included 65 total goals and an impressive home record of 12 wins, 3 losses, and 4 draws across all competitions.

Tickets for both CONCACAF and MLS matches are available online. The second leg of RSL’s matchup against Herediano will take place on Feb. 26 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.

As Real Salt Lake looks to secure its fifth consecutive postseason berth, the team emphasizes the importance of starting strong in the 2025 campaign. ‘Every match matters, and this is a huge opportunity for our club to demonstrate our growth,’ Mastroeni stated.