2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League Thread

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Sebsasour, Mar 27, 2019.

  1. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #26 BostonRed, Mar 28, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2019
    Of course, the FIFA rule that you have to play both friendlies in the same confederation makes it harder to find an opponent outside of your own confederation.

    Representative teams shall play the two matches within an international window on the territory of the same confederation, with the only exception of inter-continental play-off matches. If at least one of the two matches is a friendly, they can be played in two different confederations only if the distance between the venues does not exceed a total of five flight hours, according to the official schedule of the airline, and two time-zones.

    With Euro teams increasing tied up with Nations League and Euro qualifying, it's getting tough to get opponents. This last window as almost all Concacaf vs. CONMEBOL, strangely with no CONMEBOL wins.
     
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  2. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So, and I ask this with all seriousness now and will save the snarky BS for later - what is the point of this Nation's League? Seriously? We now have a Gold Cup in every non-WC Final year???
     
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  3. Celtigo

    Celtigo Member

    Jul 10, 2009
    Great Lakes Region (The Other One)
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I mean if they're playing Canada in September and maybe the US in October. Hardly temperatures to chill you to the core unless they have to play in Fairbanks and Whitehorse.
     
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  4. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    More official games for everyone, and far better than the defunct Copa Centroamericana and Caribbean Cups used to be.

    Pretty much the same as in Europe now:

    2019 UEFA Nations League finals
    2020 Euro
    2021 UEFA Nations League finals
    2022 World Cup
     
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  5. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    To give smaller nations a chance to play more often.

    Also because friendlies are mostly a waste of time.
     
  6. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I'm not mistaken, Americans cannot travel for the away leg in Cuba, right? US Embargo, etc...
     
  7. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Correct.

    "Tourist travel to Cuba remains prohibited. You must obtain a license from the Department of Treasury or your travel must fall into one of 12 categories of authorized travel."

    The categories are below:

    https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-i...98f1cff&mc=true&node=se31.3.515_1560&rgn=div8
     
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  8. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
  9. Ironbound

    Ironbound Member+

    Jul 1, 2009
    We should be good under the exception for "Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions."

    "Religious activities" might also apply for this crowd.
     
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  10. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    The players and staff will be. You won't.
     
  11. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any lawyers want to comment on that exception?
     
  12. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I just did. ;)
     
  13. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The joke about embargoes is that they never really hurt the targeted regime, just the common people.
     
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  14. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    When you're in Cuba, you see first hand the effects of embargo. It's a very sad thing to witness but Cubans resiliency is the most impressive thing I've witness in any of my travel.

    They keep finding ways to go on and they have free healthcare (one of the best) and free education
     
  15. Real Corona

    Real Corona Member+

    Jan 19, 2008
    Colorado
    Club:
    FC Metalist Kharkiv
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just go. Book Airbnb’s and private cabbies (not the nice cars). Do a couple Airbnb “experiences” and you’ll have satisfied the support for Cuban people category


    Also the only people being prosecuted so far have been pro Castro regime business people
     
  16. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I think an American can go there from another country, just not directly from the US. If you show up at the Cuban customs with an American passport, they won't turn you away I think...

    You might get grilled on your way back home though...
     
  17. Real Corona

    Real Corona Member+

    Jan 19, 2008
    Colorado
    Club:
    FC Metalist Kharkiv
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You won’t. And you can still fly direct from Miami or wherever in the USA. And no the Cubans don’t care. It is however much more expensive to buy a Cuban tourist card for a US flight than a 3rd country
     
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  18. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    For those who plan to go... you get royally screwed on the Cuban CUC (Tourist currency) it's almost 1 CUC for $1 but I understand the logic.
     
  19. Quaker

    Quaker Member+

    FC Dallas
    Apr 19, 2000
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Took the family on a vacation to Cuba two years ago and had no problem using the "Support for the Cuban people" category. And definitely use private Airbnb's over the overpriced, shoddy government hotels. It's about the only private business allowed by the Cuban government, and you'll find all sorts of highly-educated folks ditching $25-per-month government employment to run BnB's full time.
     
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  20. gunnerfan7

    gunnerfan7 Member+

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jul 22, 2012
    Santa Cruz, California
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dang, might have to go visit one of these days. Been looking to go somewhere cheap. How much did the trip cost you per/day minus the flights?
     
  21. Real Corona

    Real Corona Member+

    Jan 19, 2008
    Colorado
    Club:
    FC Metalist Kharkiv
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cuba isn’t especially cheap because all the infrastructure you’ll use is for tourists. Like Cubans are not eating in the paladars because a meal there at $10 is half their monthly wage. That said it’s much cheaper than going to say Miami
     
  22. Real Corona

    Real Corona Member+

    Jan 19, 2008
    Colorado
    Club:
    FC Metalist Kharkiv
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The issue is not the 1-1 exchange rate it’s the 10% surcharge that they take on every exchange to fund the Cuban government. So you give $100 and only get 90 CUCs back
     
  23. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    And I think they take extra on the US dollars
     
  24. Real Corona

    Real Corona Member+

    Jan 19, 2008
    Colorado
    Club:
    FC Metalist Kharkiv
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They take a 10% commission on US dollars
     
  25. Winoman

    Winoman Drinkin' Wine Spo-De-O-De!

    Jul 26, 2000
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So that's a 20% skim off the top for Americans? What a deal. I think I'll start "banking" with the neighborhood check-cashing store. :rolleyes:
     

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