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) | |
| Abbreviation | CONCACAF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 18 September 1961 |
| Founded at | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Type | Sports organization |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 25°46′23″N 80°08′17″W / 25.773°N 80.138°W |
Region | North America (the Caribbean, Central America, and Northern America) South America (The Guianas) |
Membership | 41 member associations |
Official language | |
President | Victor Montagliani |
General Secretary | Philippe Moggio |
Parent organization | FIFA |
| Subsidiaries | 3
|
| Website | CONCACAF.com |
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football[1][2] (CONCACAF /ˈkɒnkəkæf/ KON-kə-kaf; typeset for branding purposes since 2018 as Concacaf)[3] is one of FIFA's six continental governing bodies for association football. Its 41 member associations represent countries and territories mainly in North America, including the Caribbean and Central America, and due to geopolitical reasons, three nations from The Guianas subregion of South America — Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (an overseas region of France).[4] The CONCACAF's primary functions are to organize competitions for national teams and clubs, and to conduct the World Cup and Women's World Cup qualifying tournaments.
The CONCACAF was founded in its current form on 18 September 1961 in Mexico City, Mexico, with the merger of the NAFC and the CCCF, which made it one of the then five, now six, continental confederations affiliated with FIFA. Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao), Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname and United States were founding members.[5]
The CONCACAF is the third-most successful FIFA confederation. Mexico dominated CONCACAF men's competition early on and has won the most Gold Cups since the beginning of the tournament in its current format. The Mexico national football team is the only CONCACAF team to win an official FIFA tournament by winning the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup. Mexico and the U.S. have won all but one of the editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In recent years Costa Rica and Panama have become powers in the region; in 2014, Costa Rica became the 4th CONCACAF country after the United States, Cuba, and Mexico to make the World Cup quarterfinals, while Panama became the eleventh country from the confederation to participate in the World Cup in 2018. The United States has been very successful in the women's game, being the only CONCACAF member to win all three major worldwide competitions in women's football — the World Cup (4), the Olympics (4), and the Algarve Cup (10). Canada is the only other member to win at least one of the major competitions, winning the Algarve Cup in 2016.
Governance
The CONCACAF is led by a General Secretary, Executive Committee, Congress, and several standing committees. The Executive Committee is composed of eight members — one president, three vice-presidents, three members, and one female member.[6] Each of the three geographic zones in CONCACAF is represented by one vice-president and one member. The Executive Committee carries out the various statutes, regulations, and resolutions.
Leadership
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The first leader of CONCACAF was Costa Rican Ramón Coll Jaumet; he had overseen the merger between the North American Football Confederation (NAFC) and the Confederación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Fútbol (CCCF). In 1969, he was succeeded in the role by Mexican Joaquín Soria Terrazas, who served as president for 21 years.
His successor Jack Warner was the CONCACAF president from 1990 to 2011, also for 21 years. Warner was suspended as president on 30 May 2011 due to his temporary suspension from football-related activity by FIFA following corruption allegations.[7] Chuck Blazer was the General Secretary during the same period.[8]
On 20 June 2011, Jack Warner resigned from the presidency of CONCACAF, and removed himself from all participation in football, in the wake of the corruption investigation resulting from 10 May 2011 meeting of the Caribbean Football Union.[9] The vice-president of CONCACAF, Alfredo Hawit, acted as president until May 2012.[10]
In May 2012, Cayman Islands banker Jeffrey Webb was installed as President of CONCACAF. On 27 May 2015, Webb was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland on corruption charges in the U.S.
Victor Montagliani, leader of the Canadian Soccer Association, was elected as president of CONCACAF in May 2016.[11]
Current leaders
| Name[12][13] | Nation | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Montagliani | .svg.png){kind=small} Canada | President |
| Rodolfo Villalobos |  Costa Rica | Vice president |
| Sunil Gulati |  United States | Vice president |
| Randolph Harris |  Barbados | Vice president |
| Yon de Luisa |  Mexico | Vice president |
| Philippe Moggio |  France | General secretary |
| Jason Roberts |  Grenada | Technical Director |
| Sonia Bien-Aime |  Cayman Islands | Member |
| Jorge Salomon |  Honduras | Member |
Corporate structure
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CONCACAF is a non-profit company registered in Nassau, Bahamas.
The headquarters of the CONCACAF are located in Miami, United States. Previously it had been the Admiral Financial Center, George Town, Cayman Islands—the home city of former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and prior to that, they were based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago under the presidency of Jack Warner. The administration office of CONCACAF was previously located in Trump Tower, New York when Chuck Blazer was the General Secretary.
In February 2017, a satellite office was opened in Kingston, Jamaica.[14] In July 2017, a second satellite office was opened in Guatemala City, which is shared with UNCAF,[15] and most recently another satellite office for the FIFA Caribbean Development Office[16][17] was opened in Bridgetown, Barbados' suburb of Welches.[18][19]
Members
CONCACAF has 41 member associations:[20]
| Code | Association | National teams | Founded | FIFA affiliation | CONCACAF affiliation | IOC member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North American Zone (NAFU) (3) | ||||||
| CAN | Canada | (M, W) | 1912 | 1913 | 1961 | Yes |
| MEX | Mexico | (M, W) | 1922 | 1929 | 1961 | Yes |
| USA | United States | (M, W) | 1913 | 1914 | 1961 | Yes |
| Central American Zone (UNCAF) (7) | ||||||
| BLZ |  Belize | (M, W) | 1980 | 1986 | 1986 | Yes |
| CRC | Costa Rica | (M, W) | 1921 | 1927 | 1961 | Yes |
| SLV |  El Salvador | (M, W) | 1935 | 1938 | 1961 | Yes |
| GUA |  Guatemala | (M, W) | 1919 | 1946 | 1961 | Yes |
| HON | Honduras | (M, W) | 1935 | 1951 | 1961 | Yes |
| NCA |  Nicaragua | (M, W) | 1931 | 1950 | 1961 | Yes |
| PAN |  Panama | (M, W) | 1937 | 1938 | 1961 | Yes |
| Caribbean Zone (CFU) (31) | ||||||
| AIA |  Anguilla | (M, W) | 1990 | 1996 | 1996 | No |
| ATG |  Antigua and Barbuda | (M, W) | 1928 | 1972 | between 1961 and 1973 | Yes |
| ARU |  Aruba | (M, W) | 1932 | 1988 | 1986 | Yes |
| BAH |  Bahamas | (M, W) | 1967 | 1968 | between 1961 and 1973 | Yes |
| BRB | Barbados | (M, W) | 1910 | 1968 | 1967 | Yes |
| BER |  Bermuda | (M, W) | 1928 | 1962 | 1967 | Yes |
| BOE |  Bonaire[m 1] | (M, W) | 1960 | N/A | 2014 | No |
| VGB |  British Virgin Islands | (M, W) | 1974 | 1996 | 1996 | Yes |
| CAY | Cayman Islands | (M, W) | 1966 | 1992 | 1990 | Yes |
| CUB |  Cuba | (M, W) | 1924 | 1929 | 1961 | Yes |
| CUW |  Curaçao | (M, W) | 1921 | 1932 | 1961 | No |
| DMA |  Dominica | (M, W) | 1970 | 1994 | 1994 | Yes |
| DOM |  Dominican Republic | (M, W) | 1953 | 1958 | 1964 | Yes |
| GUF |  French Guiana | (M, W) | 1962 | N/A | 2013 | No |
| GRN | Grenada | (M, W) | 1924 | 1978 | 1978 | Yes |
| GLP | .svg.png){kind=small} Guadeloupe[m 1] | (M, W) | 1958 | N/A | 2013 | No |
| GUY |  Guyana | (M, W) | 1902 | 1970 | between 1969 and 1971 | Yes |
| HAI |  Haiti | (M, W) | 1904 | 1934 | 1961 | Yes |
| JAM |  Jamaica | (M, W) | 1910 | 1962 | 1963 | Yes |
| MTQ |  Martinique[m 1] | (M, W) | 1953 | N/A | 2013 | No |
| MSR |  Montserrat | (M, W) | 1994 | 1996 | 1996 | No |
| PUR |  Puerto Rico | (M, W) | 1940 | 1960 | 1964 | Yes |
| SKN |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | (M, W) | 1932 | 1992 | 1992 | Yes |
| LCA |  Saint Lucia | (M, W) | 1979 | 1988 | 1986 | Yes |
| SMN | Saint Martin[m 1] | (M, W) | 1999 | N/A | 2013 | No |
| VIN |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | (M, W) | 1979 | 1988 | 1986 | Yes |
| SMA |  Sint Maarten[m 1] | (M, W) | 1986 | N/A | 2013 | No |
| SUR |  Suriname | (M, W) | 1920 | 1929 | 1961 | Yes |
| TRI |  Trinidad and Tobago | (M, W) | 1908 | 1964 | 1964 | Yes |
| TCA |  Turks and Caicos Islands | (M, W) | 1996 | 1998 | 1996 | No |
| VIR |  U.S. Virgin Islands | (M, W) | 1992 | 1998 | 1987 | Yes |
M = Men's National Team. W = Women's National Team
N/A: not applicable, not available or no answer.
Bonaire were promoted from an association member to a full member at the XXIX Ordinary CONCACAF Congress in São Paulo on 10 June 2014.
Teams not affiliated to the IOC are not eligible to participate in the Summer Olympics football tournament, as a result, they do not participate in the CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament or the CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Non-members
Some territories in the North, Central American and Caribbean region have national teams with no affiliation. All play infrequently and/or are in the early stages of being founded.
- Although one of the three special municipalities of the Netherlands in the region is a member of CONCACAF (
Bonaire), the other two are not. 
Saba
Sint Eustatius
- Although one of the three overseas collectivities of France in the region is a member of CONCACAF (
Saint Martin), the other two are not. .svg.png)
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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The Football Association of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is expected to build a suitable venue with the goal of becoming a member of CONCACAF in September 2021.[21][22]
Membership relation
Elections at the CONCACAF Congress are mandated with a one-member, one-vote rule. The North American Football Union is the smallest association union in the region with only three members, but its nations have strong commercial and marketing support from sponsors and they are the most populous nations in the region.
The Caribbean Football Union has the ability to outvote NAFU and UNCAF with less than half of its membership. Consequently, there is a fractious relationship between members of CFU, UNCAF and NAFU. This provoked former Acting-President Alfredo Hawit to lobby for the CONCACAF Presidency to be rotated between the three unions in CONCACAF in 2011.
Trinidad's Jack Warner presided over CONCACAF for 21 years, and there was little that non-Caribbean nations could do to elect an alternative. Under Warner, the CFU members voted together as a unit with Warner acting as a party whip. It happened with such regularity that sports political commentators referred to the CFU votes as the "Caribbean bloc" vote. Warner rejected the idea in 1993 of merging several smaller nations' national teams into a Pan-Caribbean team. His reasoning was that the nations were more powerful politically when separate than when together. He commented that "being small is never a liability in this sport".[23]
Competitions
CONCACAF continental competitions
The Gold Cup and the Champions League are the two most visible CONCACAF tournaments.[20]
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup, held since 1991, is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF. The Gold Cup is CONCACAF's flagship competition, and generates a significant part of CONCACAF's revenue.[24]
The Gold Cup determines the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and is held every two years. Starting with the 2019 edition, 16 teams compete for the Gold Cup (up from 12).
CONCACAF Nations League
All men's national teams of member associations take part in the CONCACAF Nations League, a competition created in 2017. National teams are placed into tiers and play matches against teams in the same tier. At the end of each season, teams can be promoted to the tier above or relegated to the tier below depending upon their results.
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League, originally known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, is an annual continental club association football competition organized by CONCACAF since 1962 for the top football clubs in the region. It is the most prestigious international club competition in North American football. The winner of the Champions League qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup. The knockout tournament spans February through April.[25]
Since 2018, 16 teams compete in each Champions League; at least 9 from North America, at least 1 from the Caribbean and the remaining 6 from varying CONCACAF countries. The North American teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX qualify through their national leagues or other national tournaments, while the Caribbean team qualifies through the Caribbean Club Championship; the remaining six teams qualify through the CONCACAF League.
The title has been won by 28 clubs, 13 of which have won the title more than once. Mexican clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories, with 36 titles. The second most successful league has been Costa Rica's Primera División with six titles in total. The most successful club is Club América from Mexico, with seven titles; fellow Mexico side Cruz Azul is just behind with six.
CONCACAF League
Eighteen clubs from Central America, three from the Caribbean, and one from Canada compete in the 2017-established CONCACAF League. The top six teams of the competition are awarded a place in the following year's CONCACAF Champions League.
Current title holders
| Competition | Year | Champions | Title | Runners-up | Next edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National teams (Men's) | |||||
| Gold Cup | 2019 | Mexico | 8th | United States | 2021 |
| Nations League | 2019–20 | TBD | 1st | TBD | 2022–23 |
| Pre-Olympic Tournament | 2015 | Mexico | 7th | Honduras | 2020 |
| U-20 Championship | 2018 | United States | 2nd | Mexico | 2020 Postponed |
| U-17 Championship | 2019 | Mexico | 7th | United States | 2021 |
| U-15 Championship | 2019 | Mexico | 1st | United States | 2021 |
| Futsal Championship | 2016 | Costa Rica | 3rd | Panama | 2020 Postponed |
| Beach Soccer Championship | 2019 | Mexico | 4th | United States | 2021 |
| National teams (Women's) | |||||
| Women's Championship | 2018 | United States | 8th | Canada | 2022 |
| Women's Nations League | 2023–24 | ||||
| Olympic Qualifying Women's Tournament | 2020 | United States | 5th | Canada | 2024 |
| U-20 Women's Championship | 2020 | United States | 6th | Mexico | 2022 |
| U-17 Women's Championship | 2018 | United States | 4th | Mexico | 2022 |
| U-15 Girls' Championship | 2018 | United States | 2nd | Mexico | 2020 |
| Club teams (Men's) | |||||
| Champions League | 2020 | UANL | 1st | Los Angeles FC | 2021 |
| CONCACAF League | 2020 | Alajuelense | 1st | Saprissa | 2021 |
| Champions League U13 | 2019 | Philadelphia Union | 1st | ADFA Santa Ana | 2020 |
| Futsal Club Championship | 2017 | Grupo Line Futsal | 1st | Elite Futsal | TBC |
Titles by nation
| Nation | Men | Women | Futsal | Beach | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | League | U20 | U17 | U15 | Gold | League | U20 | U17 | U15 | Men's | Men's | ||
| Mexico | 11 | – | 13 | 8 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 4 | 39 |
| United States | 6 | – | 2 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 35 |
| Canada | 2 | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 10 |
| Costa Rica | 3 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | – | 9 |
| Honduras | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 |
| Guatemala | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 |
| Cuba | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| El Salvador | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Haiti | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Panama | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
CONMEBOL tournaments
The following CONMEBOL tournaments have had CONCACAF competitors:
National teams
Clubs
- Copa Libertadores – (1998–2017)
- Copa Sudamericana – (2005–2008)
- Copa Merconorte – (2000–2001) (defunct)