The 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup There are only 7 Central American Nations that participate in this tournament. Venezuela almost got invited last cycle. I think it is a good idea to expand the tournament to 1 guest team. The format only has 2 groups. One group has 4 teams and the other group only 3 teams. One team would get knockout by only playing 2 games in this great tournament. Honduras got knocked out in 2007 tournament by only playing 2 games against Panama and Costa Rica. It is unfair for a team to only play 2 games and get knocked out so early. By expanding it by one team would give it a more major tournament feel to it. There can always be the debate as to which group is stronger just like the World Cup talk. The problem is whom do you invite. I think the guest team should be a CONCACAF team. It was a great idea to give 12 CONCACAF teams the right to participate in their own regional tournament. All the teams in the 2007 Gold Cup where CONCACAF teams. The most logical choice would be a team from the Caribbean federation. This federation is part of CONCACAF and there would not be the HUGE embarrassment if a CONCACAF team won as opposed to a CONMEBOL team like Venezuela. The UNCAF Nations Cup can take one of two approaches. Either invite a team they know would have an extremely hard time winning it but this nation has a huge population. We are trying to create interest here so a team like the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, 2 island nations with a huge populous may be a very good option. This would create interest from either island and interest from the UNCAF nations about the guest team. The Nations Cup could also invite the defending Caribbean Cup Champion to participate. This would elevate the competition but there would be the risk of a non UNCAF nation winning the tournament. There could be bragging rights between the 2 federations as to who is better. Either way a 8 team tournament would be much more interesting that the current 7 team format. The next UNCAF Nations Cup is scheduled to run from 22 January - 1 February in Panama. - Costa Rica is the defending Champion from 2007. Comments welcome Cheers http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/10/sports/LA_SPT_SOC_Copa_UNCAF_Venezuela.php
Very intresting, i also think a Concacaf team should be invited....however i wouldn't mind a South American country. It would make the competition more exciting.
Who ever is invited should be able to help boost our competetion Standard(Finacially,Tactically...Etc) , escepially to Belize and Nicargua whom seem to struggle hopeless and it helps prevent one country dominate the competiton.....speaking of COSTA RICa As for the Country not sure maybe (Jamaica, Canada, Ghana, Bolivia, Venzuela or Trindad & tobabgo)