Winnipeg Fury Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 This was the meeting that was to decide Canada's participation in the Champions League. Sounds like it was discussed, but no confirmation regarding Canada: CONCACAF to Lobby for Four World Cup Spots By: USSoccerPlayers November 27, 2006 CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer will be lobbying FIFA for four automatic spots in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as was learned on the heels of this past weekend's CONCACAF Executive Committee (Exco) meetings in Los Angeles. In the 2006 World Cup, CONCACAF received three automatic bids (United States, Mexico and Costa Rica). In addition, Trinidad & Tobago qualified out of the region after a two-leg playoff victory over Bahrain, the fifth place finisher in Asia. "When we look at the performance of CONCACAF's fourth team in Germany 2006, Trinidad & Tobago, we see a team that not only held Sweden to a draw but was also just minutes from achieving a similar result against England," said Blazer. "Certainly there is an excellent case that CONCACAF has the strength in depth to justify four automatic spots in the 2010 World Cup." CONCACAF Exco also made several other decisions over the weekend, most notably a proposal by the CONCACAF Secretariat to develop the CONCACAF Champions' Cup into a larger "Champions' League" style event, beginning in 2009, which they will act upon. CONCACAF will also support a proposed bid by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation to host the U17 FIFA Women's World Cup in 2010. CONCACAF Wants Four Automatic World Cup Spots By: Goal.com The CONACACAF Executive Committee (Exco) met in Los Angeles on Friday and agreed to lobby FIFA on four automatic berths for the region at the next men's World Cup. Among the issues discussed and decisions made, the Exco will lobby FIFA for four automatic spots for the 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa. For the 2006 World Cup, CONCACAF received three-and-a-half (3.5) spots and saw four teams from the region take part: Costa Rica, Mexico, the United States, and Trinidad & Tobago, which, with the “.5” spot, got past AFC representative Bahrain in a playoff to reach the country’s first World Cup. CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer commented, "When we look at the performance of CONCACAF’s fourth team in Germany 2006, Trinidad & Tobago, we see a team that not only held Sweden to a draw but was also just minutes from achieving a similar result against England. Certainly there is an excellent case that CONCACAF has the strength in depth to justify four automatic spots in the 2010 World Cup." Another decision that came out of Exco’s meeting was a motion to to develop the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup™ into a larger “Champions’ League” style event, beginning in 2009. Such and event, likely, would raise the profile of each of the region’s leagues and participating clubs. In the case of MLS, for example, it could increase the importance placed upon the regular season if berths to the larger-scale event are tied to league performance. A major criticism of MLS’s current set-up is the playoff system devalues the regular season. Other notable decisions made by the Exco include: >>requiring all member associations of CONCACAF, from 2007, to have a representative on their own Executive Committee responsible for the development and management of a women’s football program. >>supporting a proposed bid by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation to host the U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2010. >>pursuing implementation of the FIFA-approved Referees Assistance Program (RAP), which is aimed at increasing the quality of refereeing at all levels of football around the world by supporting a structure at the national association level to develop referees >>lobbying FIFA for an increase in FIFA Assistance Program (FAP) to Confederations, a program that has not been increased for eight years although in this same period the number of events in the global football calendar has increased dramatically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 They haven't announced anything regarding a 2008 club competition. 3.5 seems about right for CONCACAF, especially considering the poor showing at this WC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 quote:Originally posted by Daniel They haven't announced anything regarding a 2008 club competition. 3.5 seems about right for CONCACAF, especially considering the poor showing at this WC. Interestingly, they are basing their proposal on that very same showing. I'm more than happy with CONCACAF getting 3.5 teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesW Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Good to hear they want the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup™ to grow and stick around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 quote:Originally posted by RJB Interestingly, they are basing their proposal on that very same showing. I'm more than happy with CONCACAF getting 3.5 teams. 3 teams finish last in their group (total: 2 points), one goes though on 4 points (against Iran and Angola) and loses straight away. Only CRC got blown out, but it's still a poor showing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 With 5 teams Africa didn't do a lot better with only one team going to the 2nd round and Ghana got blown out by Brazil (Mexico brought Argentina to extra time and gave them a good game). I'm not sure I would read too much in the Ivory Coast win over Serbia, meaningless game for both teams. Apart from that Africa didn't do to well with 1 more team than CONCACAF. But I believe that africans teams are usually better than the ones from CONCACAF so I'm also very please with the current 3.5 spots we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_Yank Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 We basically have 4 anyway. Concacaf is better than the AFC and the 5th placed Asian team will almost always be worse than the 4th placed concacaf side. Bahrain won a grand total of one match in Asia's final round of qualifying. T&T actually had to play well to make it to the playoffs. They beat Mexico, Guatemala, Panama all in a row and played well against the US. I think Bahrain beat North Korea, a country without a pro league and very few pro players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 I think this is a good strategic move on the part of CONCACAF to be aggressive like this in trying to get spots. They probably won't get a 4th spot but they will probably reduce the possibility of losing the .5 spot for the next World Cup by making these demands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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