Why is Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana in CONCACAF?

[Manuel_Medina]

Yes, hahaha, me again :)

I have always wondered: why do Suriname, the French Guyana, and the Guyana play on CONCACAF instead of CONMEBOL?

I mean, they're more "south" then Venezuela for example, but they play with CONCACAF, does somebody know the story?

[Ronaldo+10]

Originally posted by Manuel_Medina
Yes, hahaha, me again :)

I have always wondered: why do Suriname, the French Guyana, and the Guyana play on CONCACAF instead of CONMEBOL?

I mean, they're more "south" then Venezuela for example, but they play with CONCACAF, does somebody know the story?


I think that happens for 2 reasons. 1 they're alot more caribean in terms of culture then south american and 2 Conmebol doesn't want them.

[El CHarro_NEgro....]

Actually there's is another reason. Because the travel are a lot cheaper and shorter to the caribbean nations than going inside soutamerica continental land. So Surinam can get eliminated by Caribbean nations with a low cost instead of being eliminated by Argentina with a higher cost.

[Wallydrag]

When they are so clearly on the continent of South America? Same for Trinidad & Tobabgo which lies just off the South American coast.

[Wallydrag]

When they are so clearly on the continent of South America? Same for Trinidad & Tobabgo which lies just off the South American coast.

[SportBoy333]

I think it makes sense for them to play the Carribean countries because they are on a similar level with them. Playing the South American countries doesnt make sense because they'd get clobbered.

[sidspaceman]

Questioned answered here.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81690

[Manuel_Medina]

read here: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81679

[beachesl]

These three countries, which used to be collectively called "The Guianas" have historically, politically, racially and culturally part of the of the Carribean.

When the former colonies of Spain and Portugal became independent in the 19th Century, these three continued to be minor colonies of Britain (Guyana), Holland (Surniame) and France. The latter is still a colony of France (altho' the French prefer the term "overseas department", taking the position that it is an integral part of France that elects memebers to the French legislature- in fact, the European space agency has it's launch site there, being closer to the equator, optimal for orbital launches). All three have maintained close ties to the Cariibean nations and their former or not-so-former masters.

They have not considered themselves part of any "South American" region, and niether have the latin nations there considered them part of their unit. There have been territorial disputes between them and the adjacent countires of Brazil and Venezuela. Venezulea continues to press a claim for the western half of Guyana (it was an effort to solidify their hold on this area that prompted Guyana to give land to ill-fated Jonestown there
in the 70's), and nearly invaded in the 70's. There has never been any effort to link the countries in any realm of interbnational coperation, much less sports. There is no desire to do so, especially in soccer where the CONEMBOL countires are so strong and the 3 are so weak.

[Wallydrag]

That's what I wanted to know. Thanks.

[Manuel_Medina]

Ok, I understand everything, but putting aside all of this, wouldn't it be BETTER for them to play in CONMEBOL??

Yes, I know teams like Bolivia practically "suck" and play in the CONMEBOL, but I have always thought that if you play with a GREAT team, you get GREAT training instead if you play against a weak team who is a little better than you.

[bolas]

Originally posted by Wallydrag
When they are so clearly on the continent of South America? Same for Trinidad & Tobabgo which lies just off the South American coast.

Because they suck!

[SABuffalo786]

Originally posted by bolas
Because they suck!

To put it bluntly.

[uniteo]

Originally posted by Manuel_Medina


I have always thought that if you play with a GREAT team, you get GREAT training instead if you play against a weak team who is a little better than you.

If you

1) play against 'great teams' on a regular and frequent basis and...

2) have at least enough talent or athletic ability to make reaching that level a possibility

2 matches every four years against a great country really won't raise your play.

[nicodemus]

That is some of the most nonsensical 'reasoning' ever. The US & Canada have historically been much more in line with Europe than they have with the rest of the Americas, so why aren't we in UEFA? (rhetorical question for those impaired to such things.)

[themodelcitizen]

Originally posted by nicodemus
That is some of the most nonsensical 'reasoning' ever. The US & Canada have historically been much more in line with Europe than they have with the rest of the Americas, so why aren't we in UEFA? (rhetorical question for those impaired to such things.)

Because the flying costs would be atrocious.


EDIT: There's a certain line where the cultural differences take a backseat to geography. "The Guianas" are close enough to the Caribbean and culturally similar enough to justify their presence in CONCACAF. Canada and the US are too far removed from England despite their cultural similarities -- that is why Spain isn't in the same confederation as Argentina and Mexico, and Australia and Britain are apart, despite the cultural similarities.

[Wolves_67]

Originally posted by beachesl
They have not considered themselves part of any "South American" region, and niether have the latin nations there considered them part of their unit. Kinda like Texas and the United States. :)

[denver_mugwamp]

...if all the Surinam players who have gone to Holland had stayed and played for the national team? There'd be another major player in CONCACAF.

[ruudboy]

Maybe, they play in Clarence Seedorf Stadia.

Also, Kluivert's Dad was a pro in Surinam.

My friends are from both Grenada and Guyana, i've asked them this same question about having a unified team in the West Indies. All of them blame Jamaica, Jamaica went to the WC all by themselves, and that they wanna continue to do so, same thing for TandT.

They say the smaller islands produce about 1 to 2 players each that are good, they need the Reggae boys and T and T to round out the rest.

[Benedict XVI]

Originally posted by Scott Ferguson
Because the flying costs would be atrocious.


EDIT: There's a certain line where the cultural differences take a backseat to geography. "The Guianas" are close enough to the Caribbean and culturally similar enough to justify their presence in CONCACAF. Canada and the US are too far removed from England despite their cultural similarities -- that is why Spain isn't in the same confederation as Argentina and Mexico, and Australia and Britain are apart, despite the cultural similarities. I have a Finnish friend who thinks that World Cup qualifying should be by language group, so that Finland could qualify.