http://www.esto.com.mx/030227/futbol/2futbol.asp Mexican paper makes it sound like CONCACAF is moving it or considering moving it in case of war. Also, Colombia and either Brazil or Peru are the guests.
According to a post on the a Canadian soccer board... Brazil is sending their U23 team. http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=4693&messageid=1046210077
I'm not sure any thing any where in the world has more billboards promoting its existance. I think there is an average of 5 per mile across the entire state of SC along 95.
I think Wall Drug in South Dakota has more. If you've ever driven in any state bordering South Dakota you've probably seen their billboards.
On the bright side... At least moving the tourney to Mexico would ensure that the Mexicans field their strongest team. Also, keep in mind until we see some other confirmation that the article linked above cites no sources - there are no quotes from anyone. Of course, we can say the same for much of what we see on the internet about soccer, so make of that what you will. Btw - the Canadian article linked above that mentions Brazil sending its U-23s includes the same quotes from Valinhos as appeared in reports in the Sao Paulo papers (which also included similar comments from Zagallo) a couple days ago.
Why does the game have to be moved to Mexico just because there's a war on the other side of the world? I don't get that one. Mexico has better security than the U.S.? Brazil's U23 team could beat a lot of national teams.
If anything having it in the US in time of war would make it more secure. Maybe the other countries are worried their fans won't be let in.
or their players. some players on Columbia's U-20 team weren't able get visas and were forced to stay home for the 2 matches vs the US U-20 team
Their fans come to the tourny? Funny, all those empty stadiums must have been my eyes playin' tricks. And the one or two full venues is usually due to the mass of U.S. based ex-patriots, supporting Mexico, Hati, etc. This is a dumb idea, whoever thunked it up, and I doubt it would happen.
Split -- part in Mexico It's official. Final, 1 semi, 1 quarter, and one of the groups to be at Azteca. http://www.footballconfederation.com/news/article.page/1237 03.03.03 - The CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship for national teams of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, will be played outside the USA for the first time in a decade as the venues for the seventh edition of the tournament were today announced by General Secretary Chuck Blazer. The 2003 edition of the Confederation's signature event will be played in three cities from 12-27 July - Foxboro, Massachusetts and Miami, Florida in the USA, as well as in Mexico City, where the tournament saw matches played in 1993. Twelve teams will again take part, including two guest teams from CONMEBOL, the South American confederation: 2002 FIFA World Cup champion Brazil, and 2001 Copa America champion Colombia. ... The Estadio Azteca, the only country in the world to have played host to two FIFA World Cup finals (1970 and 1986), will be the site for the 2003 Gold Cup final, as well as one of the three-team groups and a quarterfinal and semifinal match. With a current capacity of 105,000, the Azteca was opened in 1966 and for the 1993 Gold Cup final, when Mexico defeated the USA 4:0, the stadium was completely to its then-capacity of some 120,000 fans.