CONCACAF made official today what was widely expected anyway, naming Chivas USA as one of four U.S. entries in the inaugural Champions League that kicks off this summer.

Chivas USA qualifies by virtue of owning the second highest points total during the MLS regular season.

That slot was originally allocated to the U.S. Open Cup champion (thereby making that neglected competition more meaningful), but winners the New England Revolution qualified anyway by being MLS Cup runners-up, allowing Chivas USA to move into that slot.

The other U.S. qualifiers are MLS champions the Houston Dynamo and D.C. United, who collected the most points during the regular season.

Chivas USA is one of 16 entrants (eight receive a bye in the preliminary stage) that will play home and away games Aug. 26-28 and Sept. 2-4 to qualify for the round robin final 16 stage played Sept. 16-Oct. 30.

Chivas USA will learn its first round opponent June 11 when the draw is conducted.

Also today, voting begins for the MLS All-Star game against West Ham United July 24 at the league Web site.

Robbie Rogers’ exploits last weekend earned him a profile here.

Despite what the article says, Rogers grew up in Rolling Hills Estates on the Palos Verdes Peninsula as most readers of this blog know by now. We’re not going to let Surf City claim him.