A football related article for a change from me...
Would North American football benefit from merging CONMEBOL and CONCACAF?
Currently as it stands are 41 member associations in CONCACAF, four of which have ever made a world cup finals (USA, Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica). That is compared to CONMEBOL which contains 10 members, all of which have made a world cup finals. The federation also boasts 9 world cup wins (Uruguay 2, Argentina 2, Brazil 5). The contrast in success is pretty astounding between the two.
It's been shown that playing amongst better teams can drastically increase a team's abilities (see Australia joining the AFC rather than the OFC) so would football, especially in North America, benefit from the increase competition on offer in South America?
The Copa América Centenario was one such example of a combined competition in which the US did excellently, making the semi final where they fell to a 4-0 defeat to Argentina. Would more regular games against this calibre of opposition make them more competitive at a World Cup level for example?
Distance obviously would be a factor, as the distance from Vancouver to Buenos Aires for example is 7,000 miles but this is less than the distance from Amman to Sydney as an example in the AFC.
Thoughts?
Copa America / Gold Cup
posted on 4/7/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 minutes ago
Currently as it stands are 41 member associations in CONCACAF, four of which have ever made a world cup finals (USA, Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica).
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Jamaica, T&T, Honduras, Panama...
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A total of 11 CONCACAF teams have been to the World Cup. El Salvador, Canada and Haiti make up the list
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A complete shambles. Also the conmebol claim is wrong isn't it as I don't recall Venezuela having made a world cup appearance.
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Yeah stats I got were sheiyte.
But it doesn't alter the fact that North American football is generally very low quality, mixing it in with the high quality that is South American football should bring up the level of teams in the North.
posted on 4/7/19
comment by 🏆🏆🏆Allison Chains🏆🏆🏆 (U3979)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
Think Copa will expand to 16 teams soon, and that will be mainly CONCACAF teams anyway.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't Japan and Qatar played in it this year?
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Yeah, Qatar and Australia next year. Then 2024 it is expected to expand to 16 teams.
posted on 4/7/19
I think club level is where we would see the benefits improvement wise for lesser nations. So combining their versions of the CL/Europa perhaps though I think the Libertadores has Mexican sides(?) already.
posted on 4/7/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 34 seconds ago
I think club level is where we would see the benefits improvement wise for lesser nations. So combining their versions of the CL/Europa perhaps though I think the Libertadores has Mexican sides(?) already.
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Think they play in the CONCACAF Champions League.
posted on 4/7/19
comment by 🏆🏆🏆Allison Chains🏆🏆🏆 (U3979)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 34 seconds ago
I think club level is where we would see the benefits improvement wise for lesser nations. So combining their versions of the CL/Europa perhaps though I think the Libertadores has Mexican sides(?) already.
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Think they play in the CONCACAF Champions League.
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Just took a look after posting, Mexican sides were in the Libertadores from 98 to 2016 but no longer due to schedule conflicts!
posted on 4/7/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by 🏆🏆🏆Allison Chains🏆🏆🏆 (U3979)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 34 seconds ago
I think club level is where we would see the benefits improvement wise for lesser nations. So combining their versions of the CL/Europa perhaps though I think the Libertadores has Mexican sides(?) already.
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Think they play in the CONCACAF Champions League.
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Just took a look after posting, Mexican sides were in the Libertadores from 98 to 2016 but no longer due to schedule conflicts!
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Since 2008, only three times has a non-Mexican team made the final. Real Salt Lake, Montreal Impact and Toronto FC. All three teams lost.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions_League
posted on 4/7/19
This is turning a bit into "are Mexico too good for CONCACAF?".
posted on 4/7/19
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 7 minutes ago
This is turning a bit into "are Mexico too good for CONCACAF?".
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Could say that, it just seems that countries like Mexico and the US would benefit from playing against South American teams rather than North American teams.
New Zealand should play in the AFC too.
posted on 4/7/19
Not sure the US or Mexico have much to prove either way, dangerous opponents for anyone on their day at major tournaments
posted on 4/7/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 7 minutes ago
Not sure the US or Mexico have much to prove either way, dangerous opponents for anyone on their day at major tournaments
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They'd improve further with more chances to play quality opposition.