End of CONCACAF/CONMEBOL agreement

[SJJ]

I saw this on the FIFA news site, but not on the CONCACAF news site:

CONCACAF Gold Cup
End of CONCACAF/CONMEBOL agreement
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/index/0,2527,133064,00.html?articleid=133064

North American regional football officials have ended an agreement made in 1991 that allowed for team exchanges with South America for continental football championships.

Chuck Blazer, competition committee chairman for the Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), revealed the break-up on Tuesday in announcing the 12-team line-up for June's CONCACAF Gold Cup event.
...
But any future North American participation in Copa America is on hold.

[bbsbt]

Well, that was short-lived(USA's participation in Copa America).
I'm surprised Mexico is willing to forego its own participation also.

[scaryice]

Nice find. I would hope that they could combine both into a 16 team tournament with 8 teams from both confederations. That would be the best option, unlikely as it is.

[drunkguy10]

I dont think Mexico will agree to this too easily specially since Mexico is favorite to host the next copa america.

Before Mexico gives up its place in Copa America we will move to conmebol and Blazer will be to blame.

[Crazy_Yank]

Nice find. I would hope that they could combine both into a 16 team tournament with 8 teams from both confederations. That would be the best option, unlikely as it is.



Why Should two South American teams miss out on their championship in order to include two lesser concacaf teams? If we're going to combine just use all 10 South American teams and the 6 hex qualifiers.

[Jabinho]

Next up.. Sepp will impose a FIFA ban on teams playing outside their own confederation in "Champions Leagues" forcing Mexico out of the Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana and any USA teams out of possible future competitions. ;)

[Azuran]

Heh, now I know the real reason why CONCACAF is playing CONMEBOL in the 2010 World Cup playoff.

In the Final Round, Mexico will purposely finish in four place so they get a chance to play a South American team and beat them. That way they can say they qualify from CONMEBOL and earn the respect they clearly want. They'll be boasting about that for years to come. Damn, why didn't I see that before?






Oh wait, Hugo Sanchez is their coach. I clearly sense a Spain 1982 coming their way again (and for us too ;) )

[ZeekLTK]

I dont think Mexico will agree to this too easily specially since Mexico is favorite to host the next copa america.

Before Mexico gives up its place in Copa America we will move to conmebol and Blazer will be to blame.

Well then Mexico can have fun watching (and not playing in) the next several World Cups.

Why Should two South American teams miss out on their championship in order to include two lesser concacaf teams? If we're going to combine just use all 10 South American teams and the 6 hex qualifiers.

Because it's not THEIR championship if we combine it. If it was combined, Belize or Bermuda would have just as much right to play in it as Bolivia, Venezuela, or Brazil. If both continents are playing, why should South America get a free pass and get all teams in? They should have to qualify just like the Caribbean and Central America.

In fact, I don't even agree with 8 and 8. They only have 10 teams to our 40. We should have more teams in a *combined* tournament than them (aka something like 10 CONCACAF, 6 CONMEBOL or even 12-4).


Finally...

"Chuck Blazer, competition committee chairman for the Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), revealed the break-up on Tuesday in announcing the 12-team line-up for June's CONCACAF Gold Cup event." - Article


This makes no sense. It's been known for a LONG TIME that the Gold Cup will not have guest teams this year. How exactly was this "revealed" on Tuesday?

[drunkguy10]

Well then Mexico can have fun watching (and not playing in) the next several World Cups.

We can qualify from anywhere.



Because it's not THEIR championship if we combine it. If it was combined, Belize or Bermuda would have just as much right to play in it as Bolivia, Venezuela, or Brazil. If both continents are playing, why should South America get a free pass and get all teams in? They should have to qualify just like the Caribbean and Central America.

first of all, they wont get anything of playing in copa america, they are just guests, and guests are invited, they dont have to qualify.

In fact, I don't even agree with 8 and 8. They only have 10 teams to our 40. We should have more teams in a *combined* tournament than them (aka something like 10 CONCACAF, 6 CONMEBOL or even 12-4).

southamericans will never agree to a combine tournament, and only Mexico, USA and Costa Rica can compete in south america, but only Mexico would make it, so why would they agree for some teams to miss out of a tournament, that they can qualify to automaticly.


Finally...

"Chuck Blazer, competition committee chairman for the Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), revealed the break-up on Tuesday in announcing the 12-team line-up for June's CONCACAF Gold Cup event." - Article


This makes no sense. It's been known for a LONG TIME that the Gold Cup will not have guest teams this year. How exactly was this "revealed" on Tuesday?

its a way to announce first hand that Mexico would not participate for long in future south american competitions. but it wont happen.

[B Rock]

We can qualify from anywhere.

Unfamiliar with this large regulatory body known as FIFA I take it?

[CheveLoco]

i thought Mexico in Copa America was under invitation and not because it was signed on paper as part of an agreement?

[Jabinho]

Unfamiliar with this large regulatory body known as FIFA I take it?He's saying that if they went to CONMEBOL Mexico would qualify to the WC as they would qualify in any confederation unlike weak nations such as England and Holland who have failed to qualify out of UEFA recently as in 1994 and 2002, respectively.. ;)

[Jabinho]

BTW: I assume this wouldn't end invitations totally as they have invited teams from other confederations, such as Japan, in the past..

The regulations for the Copa America don't mention any particular confederation:

1.1 On the occasion of the Tournament, the Executive Committee will be entitled to invite 2 (two) affiliated institutions from other FIFA recognized Confederations.

[drunkguy10]

Unfamiliar with this large regulatory body known as FIFA I take it?

He had implied that Mexico will seat at home, should we had to qualify out of conmebol. and Mexico has more than defended itself in copa america, so they wont have any trouble qualifying form there. Please pay attention to the conversation before you try to look smart.

and second. I'm familiar with fifa's rules, but if Australia was able to move to Asia, i'm sure that Mexico could too, and we would take our 2 spots with us.

For the record, i'm not saying that Mexico will move to conmebol, because concacaf will probably object all the way since they got the most to loose, but it possible.

[ZeekLTK]

He had implied that Mexico will seat at home, should we had to qualify out of conmebol. and Mexico has more than defended itself in copa america, so they wont have any trouble qualifying form there. Please pay attention to the conversation before you try to look smart.

and second. I'm familiar with fifa's rules, but if Australia was able to move to Asia, i'm sure that Mexico could too, and we would take our 2 spots with us.

For the record, i'm not saying that Mexico will move to conmebol, because concacaf will probably object all the way since they got the most to loose, but it possible.


Australia was able to move because it borders on Asia already. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, etc. are all in the Asian confederations, and all of them are right next to Australia.

Mexico has 7 countries in between them and the closest South American nation. So no, unless all of Central America joins CONMEBOL, it's not realistically possible for Mexico to join.


And Mexico's play in Copa America does not indicate it could qualify out of CONMEBOL. In Copa America you only need to play 4 games to reach the top 4 (and you don't even have to win them all). You also don't even play half of the confederation in the tournament (to reach the semifinals you play 4 out of a possible 11 opponents). In qualifying you have to play everyone twice and then at the end you only qualify if your top 4. Which is harder than it looks because Brazil and Argentina each take a spot, so you would basically be fighting 8 countries for 2 spots. Mexico is not good enough to constantly finish on top of those 8 teams year in and year out. In fact, if Mexico did join CONMEBOL, I'm positive they would fail to qualify for at least 3 out of the next 5 World Cups.

[Crazy_Yank]

Well then Mexico can have fun watching (and not playing in) the next several World Cups.



Because it's not THEIR championship if we combine it. If it was combined, Belize or Bermuda would have just as much right to play in it as Bolivia, Venezuela, or Brazil. If both continents are playing, why should South America get a free pass and get all teams in? They should have to qualify just like the Caribbean and Central America.

In fact, I don't even agree with 8 and 8. They only have 10 teams to our 40. We should have more teams in a *combined* tournament than them (aka something like 10 CONCACAF, 6 CONMEBOL or even 12-4).


Finally...





Is this a idea you think will be implemented or is this some fantasy of yours that you realize will never and should never happen? IMHO every single conmebol team is capable of at least picking up with 4th qualifying spot in concacaf. How would it benefit conmebol to have fewer of their teams playing in a watered down tournament?

[drunkguy10]

Australia was able to move because it borders on Asia already. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, etc. are all in the Asian confederations, and all of them are right next to Australia.

Mexico has 7 countries in between them and the closest South American nation. So no, unless all of Central America joins CONMEBOL, it's not realistically possible for Mexico to join.

I dont know what world you are living in, but Mexico already participates in every single conmebol competition except the qualifiers. So Mexico moving to south america is not going to be that hard, and the distance is not that much, considering that all the south american countries are small. Mexico already has one foot in conmebol so its very realistic, not that is going to happen, but it realistic, if we want to.


And Mexico's play in Copa America does not indicate it could qualify out of CONMEBOL. In Copa America you only need to play 4 games to reach the top 4 (and you don't even have to win them all). You also don't even play half of the confederation in the tournament (to reach the semifinals you play 4 out of a possible 11 opponents). In qualifying you have to play everyone twice and then at the end you only qualify if your top 4. Which is harder than it looks because Brazil and Argentina each take a spot, so you would basically be fighting 8 countries for 2 spots. Mexico is not good enough to constantly finish on top of those 8 teams year in and year out. In fact, if Mexico did join CONMEBOL, I'm positive they would fail to qualify for at least 3 out of the next 5 World Cups.

First of all, should Mexico move to south america, we would likely take at least a spot and a half or two, thus increasing the chances of qualifying. second, i'm pretty sure Mexico can hang in there and make it to the world cup from conmebol. The extra spots and the extra money will certainly interest conmebol.

[Panfilo]

zeek

miss out on 3 out of the next 5 world cups?


Wow.

South Americans shit their pants recently when the play in Ecuador. They still don't like playing in La Paz even though Bolivia is crap. Now imagine playing a team better than Ecuador and Bolivia in altitude. As Ecuador has proven in the past, take care of your home games and get a couple results on the road and you will qualify to the world cup from Conmebol.

Mexico would miss a world cup here or there, but the homefield advantage i and the overall quality is too good to miss 3 out 5 world cups.

[Bluecat82]

Mexico is not good enough to constantly finish on top of those 8 teams year in and year out. In fact, if Mexico did join CONMEBOL, I'm positive they would fail to qualify for at least 3 out of the next 5 World Cups.

I can't believe I'm going to do this...:o

Mexico is better than every team in CONMEBOL not named Brazil or Argentina.

All of them.

(So, is the US, btw...)

Mexico qualifies from CONMEBOL at worst 4 out of 5.

To preserve my US fan membership, I still think Marquez is a goon, however...;)

[MesQueUnClub]

I can't believe I'm going to do this...:o

Mexico is better than every team in CONMEBOL not named Brazil or Argentina.

All of them.

(So, is the US, btw...)

Mexico qualifies from CONMEBOL at worst 4 out of 5.

To preserve my US fan membership, I still think Marquez is a goon, however...;)

Whether fans admitted or not Mexico needs the US to be good and the US needs Mexcio to be good for both nations to get some respect. I believe that in the Americas Mexico and the US can beat anyone on any given day not named Brazil and Argentina.

I never root for the US (other than when they played Iran), but in Copa America I hope they do well against those South American teams only to show that other than Brazil and Argentina most of them (not all) are garbage and not any better than the two concacaf giants.