The top eight club sides from North, Central America and the Caribbean will begin their respective journeys towards the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 this week with big names from the USA, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Jamaica all in action.

The quarter-final round of the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup begins on Tuesday with a first leg contest between Motagua of Honduras and Pachuca of Mexico. The two will line up at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andina in Tegucigalpa with the Hondurans, who beat Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica to be crowned Central American club champions last year, hoping to keep mighty Pachuca at bay on home soil.

The Mexicans are Champions Cup holders and qualified for the 2008 tournament by winning the Clausura championship. They will be looking to get back to the FIFA Club World Cup after a disappointing showing at the 2007 instalment of the global showpiece, but will have their work cut out up against a powerful Motagua side led by Honduras national team skipper Amado Guevara.

Wednesday's contest will pit Harbour View of Jamaica against DC United, who topped the Major League Soccer regular-season standings last year. The Jamaicans reached the quarter-finals by beating Trinidadian side Joe Public to claim the Caribbean club title for 2007, and will now be out to undo their American visitors in Kingston.

DC United are currently in their close season, but will be hoping to at least escape the Jamaican capital with a draw. They will be counting on the prowess of Brazilian ace and 2007 MLS player of the Year Luciano Emilio and Bolivian goal king Jaime Moreno to give them the attacking edge they need.

Also on 12 March, the other competing American team will be in action. 2007 MLS champions Houston Dynamo, and their Canadian creator Dwayne De Rosario, will travel to Guatemala City to take on CSD Municipal, who qualified for the last eight by finishing third at the 2007 Central American Club Championship.

The fourth and final first leg will see Atlante of Mexico, CONCACAF champions of 1983, host Deportivo Saprissa on 13 March. The Mexicans reached this far by winning the 2007 Mexican Apertura while Saprissa, the Costa Rican heavyweights led by Walter Centeno, finished second at last year's Central American championship.

The quarter-final second legs will take place in early April with a pure aggregate format in place, meaning goals scored at home count the same as those scored away.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the longest-running continental club competition in the region, having named a North, Central American and Caribbean champion every year since 1962. Next year the tournament will be played under a new format and re-named the CONCACAF Champions League.

Quarter-final first legs:
11 March: Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino)
Motagua (HON) - Pachuca (MEX)

12 March: Kingston, Jamaica (Harbour View Stadium)
Harbour View (JAM) - DC United (USA)

12 March: Guatemala City, Guatemala (Estadio Mateo Flores)
CSD Municipal (GUA) - Houston Dynamo (USA)

13 March: Cancun, Quintana Roo Mexico (Estadio Andres Quintana Roo)
Atlante (MEX) - Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)