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ZURICH, Switzerland - FIFA has lifted its suspension of El Salvador, enabling CD FAS and Metapan to compete in next season's CONCACAF Champions League.

The FIFA Emergency Committee had suspended the Salvadoran federation on May 10 due to the country's government unwillingness to recognize FIFA's normalizing committee or the panel's new statutes. But with a decree by the Salvadoran parliament on May 17 for authorities to comply with the FIFA requests, the Emergency Committee rescinded its ban on Thursday.

The most immediate effect will be to restore the country's two clubs to the Champions League.

As per the draw conducted May 19, top seed CD FAS will face Xelaju of Guatemala in the Preliminary Round and Metapan will play the Seattle Sounders.

The FAS-Xelaju winner will advance to Group D, where it will join Mexican Clausura winner Toluca, Olimpia of Honduras and either the Los Angeles Galaxy or the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The winner between Metapan and the Sounders will advance to Group C to play Mexican Apertura winner Monterrey, Saprissa of Costa Rica and either Tauro of Panama or Marathon of Honduras.

The first leg of the Preliminary Round is set for July 27-29 with the second leg a week later.


CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round pairings and group assignments: