Argentina offers to host 2020(now 2021) U-20 WWC if Panama/Costa Rica are forced to give up their hosting duties.
For Costa Rica, I do not think the issue is Covid 19 there. I think it is Covid 19 in countries that would be sending teams.
Zimbabwe put an update on the CAF schedule: With the preliminary round done before lock-down, the remaining three qualifying rounds will be played in September, October and November 2020. Zimbabwe eliminated Malawi on a 1-0 aggregate score in February setting up a first round clash with Ethiopia. The two first round legs will take place between 3 and 12 September while the second and third round will be played as follows: Round 2 First leg 1 – 3 October Second leg 8 – 10 October Round 3 First leg 5 – 7 November Second leg 12 – 14 November
Panama's Sports Ministry head has indicated that his country will not host the 2021 u20 WC, on the dates planned out by FIFA (Jan-Feb 2021). He pleaded instead for another delay, this time until August 2021. The gov't official blames insufficient time to complete construction work on its capital city venue. His statement comes a week after Costa Rica's LOC confirmed a FIFA Council announcement that the tournament will not move to another world region, along with the January start date. https://www.crhoy.com/deportes/pana...-el-mundial-sub-20-si-no-hay-cambio-de-fecha/ The FIFA statement acts as damage control after the Argentina FA offered its services to organize the tournament. One must remember that Argentina u20 was pre-eliminated from the next u20 WC, by drawing 1-1 at home with Bolivia u20. While four Conmebol u20 NTs still compete for 2 WC slots, Argentina wants to bypass the whole thing as an improvised u20 WC organizer.
It might end up being just Costa Rica then if they are still willing to host it alone and at the new dates.
If Panama pulls out, who will get the extra slot attributed as the host ? Surely another CONCACAF team?
In the last CONCACAF tournament was no a match for third place, so the most commendable solution would be a playoff between neighboring Haiti and the Dominican Republic that lost their matches in the SF vs the US and Mexico.
Maybe they could even emulate El Salvador and Honduras and fight a war. That would give real interest to a third place match to get to go lose at the U20 WWC. La guerra del fútbol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War
The 3rd place match would have been played in Dominican Rep, which hosted qualifiers. Also, 9 of 20 Dominican players reside abroad. Haiti had only 1 foreign-based player during qualifiers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_CONCACAF_Women's_U-20_Championship_squads Concacaf qualifiers are almost complete, with 1 new qualifier date pending. CAF has 6 qualifier dates to complete. Conmebol needs to play 3 qualifier dates still.
Panama FA announced last Friday that Panama's gov't has withdrawn from organizing the 2021 u20 WWC. Gov't funding will be reallocated to public health efforts against the pandemic. Unfortunate but correct move by the Panamanians. http://fepafut.com/noticias/4057/go...rganizacion-de-la-copa-mundial-femenina-sub20
Hope they'll be able to bring down the virus in Panama. Reaction from CRC: Costa Rica ‘ready to host the entire tournament’ as Panama bows out https://ticotimes.net/2020/07/26/co...panama-bows-out-as-u-20-womens-world-cup-host (Archive) Although things have just worsened there - during July, total virus deaths have risen from 17 to 100, and cases from 4,000 to 15,000.
As of July 29th, both Costa Rica u20 squads have started training, under strict public health protocols. CRC u20 WNT training list: 📋 Lista de jugadoras para el reinicio de los entrenamientos de #LaSeleFemeninaSub20 pic.twitter.com/oVGubzCpTL— FCRF 🇨🇷 (@fedefutbolcrc) July 28, 2020
Yesterday a tweet of Fedefutbol Costa Rica is including Panama as qualified. It would not seem fair since the canaleras did not participate in the qualifying rounds .... I suppose FIFA will have the last word.
There is at least one precedent, the 2003 World Cup, when China lost the hosting due to the Sars outbreak but Fifa still allowed them to automatically qualify, and to host in '07. (Fifa even gave the organizers compensation.) The main difference is that China were a top team, Panama U20s aren't, but they were awarded a host's place just the same.
It seems that justice was done. Wikipedia includes Haiti or Dominican Republic as the fourth Concacaf candidate
If CRC federation says u20 PAN is in, then they must know something we do not. DOM cannot host HAI for 3rd place playoff. Difficult logistics to bring back half of the DOM squad from abroad to play some match, somewhere. In the last 36 hours, a Canadian resident updated that Wikipedia page pretty much to say that PAN is out. I doubt FIFA or CRC federation get their internet service from a Canadian ISP. Hopefully FIFA will clarify the whole thing by the next FIFA Council and FIFA Congress meetings in September.
Indeed, there is still nothing clear. According to this news Panama will ask FIFA to have a play off vs Haiti for a spot in the U20 WWC Costa Rica 2021. The Dominican Republic is not mentioned. https://www.tvmax-9.com/somoslasele/Panama-esperanza-Mundial-Sub-20-Femenino_0_5639436106.html
Not as dire as the U-17 WWC, but still no word from FIFA is this will get postponed again. CAF hasn't made decision on their qualifiers resuming. CONMEBOL's final round is scheduled for Nov. 18-22.
Conmebol u20 and u17 qualifiers are postponed again. Public health concerns are valid, plus there is no money to enforce safety protocols at this time. u20 squads from BRA+COL+URU continue to train in the meantime. http://www.conmebol.com/es/conmebol-posterga-campeonatos-juveniles-femeninos-sub-20-y-sub-17