History of the CONCACAF

History of CONCACAF

CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and serves as governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Suriname in the south.

As the administrative body for the region, CONCACAF organizes competitions, offers training courses in technical and administrative aspects of the game, and helps builds football throughout the region. The primary function of the Confederation is the organization of competitions for national teams and clubs. It also conducts qualifying tournaments for FIFA events including the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA world championships at youth levels and in beach football and futsal.

CONCACAF Information
CONCACAF Gold Cup | CONCACAF Champions' Cup

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is showpiece event for men’s national sides. Contested every two years, it crowns the champion team of the region. The USA won the inaugural competition in 1991, defeating Honduras before 40,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in California . Mexico then won three consecutive titles, the third in 1998 before a crowd of 91,000 in Los Angeles , before Canada won its first major international honor in more than 100 years of football history in 2000. After the USA claimed the 2002 title, Mexico returned to the top of the Confederation with their fourth crown last year.

The CONCACAF Champions' Cup has been CONCACAF’s premier club competition since its inception in 1962. Played annually, the tournament features the champions and runner-up of the domestic competitions from national associations affiliated to the Confederation. The final stages of this year’s event sees eight teams competing for the title of CONCACAF Champions.

In 1994, CONCACAF took pride in joining Europe and South America as the only Confederations to hosted three or more World Cup tournaments. Mexico welcomed the world twice, in 1970 and 1986, while the USA hosted the event for the first time in 1994.

As the century turned, each zone within the Confederation took turns in hosting a FIFA world championship. In both 1999 and 2003, the USA hosted a World Cup, this time for women, while Mexico played host to the FIFA Confederations Cup. Guatemala hosted its first world championship in 2000 with the FIFA Futsal World Championship, while Trinidad & Tobago became the first Caribbean country to host a world football event in 2001 with the FIFA World U-17 Championship.

Jack Austin Warner of Trinidad & Tobago, President of CONCACAF, is a FIFA Vice President and Chairman of the FIFA Youth Competitions Committee. He also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is Member of the Emergency Committee and Committee for Security Matters and Fair Play.

General Secretary Chuck Blazer of the USA is a member of the FIFA Executive Committee. He is Deputy Chairman of the Marketing and Television Advisory Board and Member of the FIFA Players Status Committee and Committee for Security Matters and Fair Play. He also served as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.