CONCACAF News on Gold Cups

The Football Confederation (CONCACAF) members met in Argentina over the weekend and discussed several topics including qualifying for the 2003 Women’s World Cup, the inaugural Women’s Under-19 World Championships in Canada and the Men’s 2002 Gold Cup.



FC EXECUTIVE TAKES ACTION ON WOMEN’S TOURNAMENTS AT MEETING ON 5 JULY



A pair of important decisions regarding women’s football tournaments in the upcoming year was chief among a lengthy list of agenda items as the Executive Committee of the Football Confederation met on 5 July at the Hilton Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of a busy weekend which

included the FIFA Extraordinary Congress, FIFA seminars on racism and education and the finals of the FIFA World Youth Championship.



Most importantly, a decision was taken to use the second edition of the FC Women’s Gold Cup, to be held next year, as the Confederation’s qualifying competition for 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.



With the WWC finals to be played in China PR, likely in September/October 2003, the development of the Women’s United Soccer Association in the USA as the preeminent women’s league in the world, and the scheduling of the inaugural FIFA Women’s U-19 World Championship, the Committee felt it was best to hold just one tournament.



The dates of the competition, along with the format of the final tournament and all qualifying rounds, will be determined at a later date. The FC has two guaranteed spots in the 2003 WWC, with the third-place finisher in the

qualifying competition playing the third-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for the final spot. Despite being defending champions, the USA is not guaranteed a berth in the 2003 finals.



As well, with the dates for the inaugural FIFA Women’s U-19 Championship set for 17 August – 2 September, discussion was held regarding the qualifying procedure to determine the Confederation’s two available berths (along with host Canada) for that competition. Members of the committee were asked to present proposals for organization of the tournament.



DATES SET FOR PLAYOFF SERIES FOR 2002 FC GOLD CUP



The dates have been set for the playoff series to decide the 12th and final participant for the 2002 Gold Cup, following the meeting of the FC Executive Committee on 5 July in Buenos Aires, Argentina.



Panama, the fourth-place finisher in the UNCAF Copa de Naciones, will take on Cuba, the fourth-place finisher in Copa Caribe, in a two-leg, home-and-home series, the first match at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday 29 July in Panama, at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. The return leg will also kick off at

4:30 p.m., on Sunday 5 August in Havana, at Estadio Pedro Marrero.



The winner of the series will join Canada (defending champion), Mexico and USA (North Zone), Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica (Central Zone), Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti and Martinique (Caribbean Zone) and two guest teams in the field for the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the championship of the Football Confederation, to be played from 18 January – 3 February 2002.