March 2006 Volume 16/ Number 2

CONCACAF NEWS
Official Newsletter of The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football

Calendar of Events
21-23 March 2006
2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Semifinal Series First-Legs
28-30 March 2006
2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Semifinal Series Second-Legs
29 March 20 April 2006
2006 Central American & Caribbean Games
CFU (Mens U-21) Qualification
3 April 2006
CONCACAF Executive Committee Meeting
New York, N.Y. USA

Mexico (green) defeated Ghana (white) 1:0 in a recent friendly. Photo by Christian Palma/MEXSPORT

11-13 April 2006

2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Final First-Leg

CONCACAF Teams Prepare for World Cup 2006

All four CONCACAF teams taking part in this years FIFA World
Cup have been in action recently as their preparation steps up
a gear and the four coaches get ready to name their 23-man
squads on 15 May 2006.
Costa Rica lost their most recent friendly match to their Iranian
hosts at Tehrans Azadi Stadium by a 3:2 score line on 1 March.
However, their technical director, Alexandre Guimaraes, knows
only too well that the results that really count will be those in Germany in
June, beginning with the Ticos opener against the World Cup hosts, Germany in
Munich on 9 June, a game that is also the tournaments curtain raiser.
Meanwhile Iran begin the World Cup against another CONCACAF team, Mexico,
in Nuremberg on 11 June.
In an encounter the technical staff of the USA will have watched closely,
Mexico recorded a 1:0 victory over African World Cup qualifier Ghana, at Pizza
Hut Park in Frisco, Texas USA on 1 March. The Stars & Stripes will play the
Ghanaians in their final World Cup group match, on 22 June in Nuremberg.
For their part the USA fell to a 4:1 defeat in their game against Germany in
Dortmund on 22 March, bringing to an end their seven game unbeaten run. The
Stars & Stripes had won their previous encounter, against Poland on 1 March, by
1:0 scoreline.
The preparations for CONCACAFs fourth team, first-time qualifier Trinidad &
Tobago, continued to go well with a 2:0 win over Iceland at Loftus Road in
London, England, on 28 February. The victory extended their unbeaten run to
five games.
FIFA World Cup 2006 - CONCACAF Teams Preparation Games
Date
Match
Location
29 March MEXICO PARAGUAY
USA
27 May WALES TRINIDAD & TOB
11 April USA JAMAICA
USA
28 May USA LATVIA
10 May TRINIDAD & TOB PERU
TRI
31 May CZECH REP COSTA RICA
23 May USA MOROCCO
USA
31 May SLOVENIA TRINIDAD & TOB
26 May USA VENEZUELA
USA
1 June NETHERLANDS MEXICO
27 May FRANCE MEXICO
FRA
3 June CZECH REP TRINIDAD & TOB

AUT
USA
CZE
SVN
NED
CZE

18-20 April 2006

2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Final Second-Leg

2006 FIFA World Cup

Groups
Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Sweden

Group C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Mont.
Netherlands

Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

Group G
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

PAGE 2

CONCACAF NEWS - March 2006

second leg of the semifinal encounter
on 29 Mrach in the Azteca Stadium in
Mexico City.
The winners of the semifinals will
meet in a two-legged final series to
claim the title of CONCACAF Champion,
with these games due to take place on
12 and 19 April. The CONCACAF
Champion will represent the
Confederation against the best teams
from around the world in FIFAs Club
World Championship which takes place
later this year in Japan. The tournament
runner-up will be one of three teams
invited to participate in South Americas
2006 Copa Nissan Sudamericana.

Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, a result

that ended this years challenge from
the Caribbean.
The two Mexican teams
For their part, Costa Rican side
vying for a place in the
Alajuelense reached the semifinals
CONCACAF Champions
after beating the New England
Cup Final have edged
Revolution, from the USA, 1:0 at home
ahead of their respective
in the second leg of their quarterfinal
Costa Rican opponents following the
series. With the first leg having finished
first leg games of the semifinals in
goalless, the second leg win also gave
CONCACAFs championship of clubs.
Alajuelense a 1:0 aggregate victory.
CD Toluca (MEX) earned a 2:0 victory
The other Mexican side still in the
over visiting Deportivo Saprissa (CRC),
running, Toluca, earned their semifinal
the defending CONCACAF Champions, in
spot with a 4:1 aggregate victory over
the first leg of their semifinal tie on 22
Honduran side CD Olimpia. A 2:0 victory
March. A goal in each half by Carlos
in Honduras was followed-up by a 2:1
Esquivel Silva for the
home win for the
Mexican side leaves
Mexicans.
Saprissa needing a
In perhaps the most draconvincing win to
matic second-leg quarterfioverturn the twonal encounter, Costa Ricas
goal deficit when
Deportivo Saprissa came
they host the return
back from a two-goal
leg of the fixture on
deficit to tie and then
29 March in their
defeat the visiting Los
home stadium of
Angeles Galaxy (USA) 3:2 in
Estadio Ricardo
LD Alajuelense (red) loses opening game of SF 1 extra time at the Estadio
Saprissa in San Jose, CD Toluca (red) defeat defending CONCACAF
Ricardo Saprissa in San
Champion Deportivo Saprissa (white) in first-leg to Club Amrica (yellow).
Costa Rica .
of SF 2, Photo from La Nacion (CRC)
Photo by Jorge Castillo
Jos, Costa Rica. The preMeanwhile, Club
Costa Rican and Mexican Teams
vious encounter, in Los Angeles USA, finAmerica (MEX) earned a 2:0 victory over
Dominate Quarterfinals
ished goalless so the second leg victory
LD Alajuelense (CRC) in the first leg of
The Champions Cup semifinals
for Saprissa was enough to see them
their semifinal encounter on 23 March,
became an all Costa Rican and Mexican through to semifinals.
which took place in Alajuela, Costa
affair when the teams from these two
The elimination of the Galaxy and
Rica. After a goalless first half, a
countries saw-off challengers from
the Revolution means its the first time
strike for the visiting Mexican team by
Honduras, Jamaica and the USA at the
since the 2003 CONCACAF Champions
Irenio Jose Soares, on 65 minutes, was
quarterfinal stage.
Cup that a USA club hasnt reached
quickly cancelled out by Erick Scott
Club Amrica gained a 7-3 aggregate the semifinals, while it is the second
when he scored for Alajuelense just
quarterfinal victory over two-legs
consecutive year that two Mexican
two minutes later.
against Caribbean Champions, Portmore sides have made the final four. It is
The Mexican team claimed the vicUnited of Jamaica. A 2:1 win for the
also first time since 2004 that both
tory, and the advantage ahead of the
Mexican team in Houston USA, where
Deportivo Saprissa and LD Alajuelense
second leg, with a Kleber Boas goal on
the Jamaicans played their home game, have progressed to the semifinals in
76 minutes. Club America will host the
was followed by 5:2 victory in the
the same tournament.

Mexican Teams Take

Control

Quarterfinal Series

Club America (MEX)

1 2Ag
257

Portmore United (JAM) 1 2 3

NE Revolution (USA) 0 0 0
LD Alajuelense (CRC)

101

CD Toluca (MEX)

224

CD Olimpia (HON)

011

Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 0 2 2

Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) 0 3 3

Final Series

Semifinal Series

Club America (MEX)

1 2 Ag
2

Second Leg: 29 March

LD Alajuelense (CRC)

CD Toluca (MEX)

First Leg: 12 April

Second Leg: 29 March

Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) 0

Second Leg: 19 April

= To play at home in the first leg

CONCACAF NEWS - March 2006

SOCCER

CONCACA

CH

TO

AMENT

Group 1
Waterford, St. Michaels BARBADOS;
16.04.2006: BABRADOS PUERTO RICO
18.04.2006: ARUBA PUERTO RICO
20.04.2006: BARBADOS ARUBA
Group 2
Malabar, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO;
31.03.2006: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DOMINICA
02.04.2006: HAITI DOMINICA
04.04.2006: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO HAITI
Group 3
Willemstad, Curcaco NETHERLANDS ANTILLES;
29.03.2006: NETHERLANDS ANTILLES USVI
31.03.2006: US VIRGIN ISLANDS ST. LUCIA
02.04.2006: NETHERLANDS ANT. ST. LUCIA
Group 4
La Habana, CUBA;
12.04.2006: ANTIGUA & BARBUDA ST. VIN.
14.04.2006: CUBA ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
16.04.2006: CUBA ST. VINCENT & THE GREN
Group 5
Paramaribo, SURINAM;
05.04.2006: SURINAM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
07.04.2006: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JAMAICA
09.04.2006: SURINAM JAMAICA

CONCACAF announced that the CONCACAF Beach Soccer

Tournament, originally scheduled to take place alongside South
Americas (CONMEBOL) Qualification Event, will now take place
in September 2006 at a venue to be determined in due course.
Holding the event on CONCACAF soil will act as an added
incentive for further growth of the sport in the region as well as
bring it closer to the fans through increased TV exposure, said Chuck Blazer,
CONCACAF General Secretary.
Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico and USA were scheduled
to compete this month in Maca, Brazil.
The inaugural CONCACAF Beach Soccer Tournament in September will take
place in the CONCACAF Region and will qualify two nations to the 2006 FIFA
Beach Soccer World Cup.
EA

RN

The road to the mens

under-21 football tournament at the 2006
Central American &
Caribbean Games in Cartagena,
Colombia begins with Caribbean qualification this month.
Caribbean Football Union (CFU)
qualifying takes the form of five
groups of three teams to play on a
round-robin basis, from 29 March 20
April, with each group winner qualifying to the CAC games.
The CFU Group 1 has Aruba,
Puerto Rico and the host Barbados.
Group 2 takes place in Trinidad &
Tobago who welcome visitors
Dominica and Haiti.
The Netherlands Antilles host
Group 3 that includes St. Lucia and
US Virgin Islands, while Cuba greets
Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent &
The Grenadines in Group 4. Group 5
will be held in Surinam and includes
Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Along with the five Caribbean
qualifiers, four teams from Central
American will progress to the CAC
games that will run from 16-29 July.
The Caribbean and Central
American qualified teams will be
joined by Mexico, Venezuela and the
host, Colombia at the 2006 games.

New Dates For Beach Soccer Tournament

U

Caribbean Qualifying
to CAC Games Begins

PAGE 3

Chuck Blazer Leads

Russia Site Inspection

Costa Rica Wins

U-16 Tournament
In preparation for the CONCACAF
Under-17 Preliminary Qualifiers scheduled for later this year, Costa Rica
won the Central American Under-16
Tournament held at the Estadio
Casique Diriangn in Diriamba,
Nicaragua from 13-15 February.
The Ticos finished first after winning three of their five matches in the
tournament that also included El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Panama and Nicaragua.
This was the first U-16 tournament
to take place in Central America since
the CONCACAF Final Round
Qualification Tournament for the FIFA
U-16 (now U-17) World Championship
was held in Honduras in 1987.
Team
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Panama
Honduras
Nicaragua

GP
5
5
5
5
5
5

W
3
3
2
1
0
0

L
1
2
1
1
1
3

T
1
0
2
3
4
2

F:A PTS
8:3 10
8:2 9
5:5 8
2:3 6
4:5 4
2:8 2

Central American U-16 Tournament Results

13.02.2006:
GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR 0:3 (0:2)
COSTA RICA PANAMA 2:1 (2:0)
NICARAGUA HONDURAS 1:1 (1:1)
14.02.2006:
EL SALVADOR HONDURAS 1:0 (1:0)
PANAMA GUATEMALA 0:0
NICARAGUA COSTA RICA 0:4 (0:1)
15.02.2006:
PANAMA HONDURAS 0:0
GUATEMALA COSTA RICA 1:0 (1:0)
NICARAGUA EL SALVADOR 0:4 (0:2)
17.02.2006:
HONDURAS GUATEMALA 2:2 (0:1)
EL SALVADOR COSTA RICA 0:1 (0:1)
NICARAGUA PANAMA 1:1 (0:1)
18.02.2006:
PANAMA EL SALVADOR 1:0 (1:0)
COSTA RICA HONDURAS 1:1 (0:0)
NICARAGUA GUATEMALA 0:2 (0:1)

CONCACAF General Secretary, Chuck Blazer,

with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov

Chairman of the Organising

Committee for the FIFA Womens U-20
World Championship, and CONCACAF
General Secretary, Chuck Blazer, led a
FIFA Delegation on a site inspection of
Russia in February, which will host the
tournament later this year.
Blazer, who visited the northern
city of St. Petersburg and the Russian
capital of Moscow, praised the warm
welcome and strong support demonstrated by officials from governmental
authorities, the Russian Football Union
and the Local Organising Committee
during the inspection of proposed stadiums, hotels and facilities to be used
during the competition.
We were very pleased with what
we saw during our inspection in
Russia, said Blazer. There is much
work to do, but we are confident that
we will be able to work together to
find all the necessary solutions to put
on a world-class event later this year.
The 2006 FIFA Womens U-20 World
Championship is scheduled to run from
17 August 3 September. Canada,
Mexico and USA are the CONCACAF
qualifiers to the 16-team tournament.

PAGE 4

CONCACAF NEWS - March 2006

Around The
Confederation
WORLD CUP TROPHY TOURS CONCACAF
The 2006 FIFA World Cup Trophy
made several stops in the CONCACAF
region last month when it visited the
four nations that qualified to Germany.
The tour, which began in Africa on 7
January and made its way into South
America on 4 February, reached the
CONCACAF region with a stop in San
Jos, Costa Rica on 8 February and two
stops in Mexico when it toured Ciudad
de Mxico, DF and Monterrey, Nuevo
Leon, on 11 & 13 February, respectively.
The famous trophy then headed to
Port of Spain, Trindiad & Tobago and
Los Angeles, California USA, on 17 & 20
February, respectively.

725 FIFTH AVENUE, 17th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022

CONCACAF NEWS

MEXICO HOSTS REFEREE SYMPOSIUM

The Federacin Mexicana de Ftbol
Asociacin A.C., in collaboration with
CONCACAF, staged an International
Referee Symposium from the 20-24
February at the Club Dorados in
Oaxtepec, Morelos in Mexico

A total of 89 participants from 20

countries around the CONCACAF region
took part in the event which had CONCACAF Vice President and Co-Chairman
of the CONCACAF Referee Committee,
Lisle Austin, as an instructor along with
Esse Baharmast (USA), Carlos Ortiz
(SLV) and Osmond Downer (TRI).
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, BELIZE & ST.
LUCIA CROWN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Antigua & Barbuda, Belize and St.
Lucia crowned their respective
National League Champions. Hitachi
Centre Sap FC captured their first
Antigua & Barbuda Premier Division
crown after taking first place in the
2005-06 standings with 42 Points (13-23 record) in January.
Hitachi Centre Sap finish ahead of
Hoppers FC (11-5-2, 35 Points) and
defending champions Bassa SC (10-4-4,
34 Points) in the 10-team standings.
Meanwhile, New Site Erei FC won the
2006 Football Federation of Belize
Opening League crown after defeating
last years Closing Champion, Boca FC,
by a score of 5:4 on penalties in the
second-leg of the final at the Carl

Ramos Stadium on 29 January.

After the first-leg of the finals
ended in a scoreless draw at the
Michael Ashcroft Stadium on 21
January, the second encounter concluded with both teams playing to a
1:1 tie at the end of regulation and
extra time.
Another final decided on penalties
was the 2005-06 St. Lucia Premier
League Championship as Canaries
claimed their first title after defeating
Anse La Raye 3:2 on penalties after a
2:2 draw in regulation time at the
Mindoo Phillip Ground in Castries on 5
February.
GULATI ELECTED USSF PRESIDENT
Sunil Gulati was elected as the new
president of the United States Soccer
Federation (USSF) during the
Federations Annual General Meeting
held at the Flamingo Hotel in Las
Vegas, Nevada on 11 March.
Gulati, who ran unopposed in the
election, succeeds S. Robert
Contiguglia who stepped down after
two four-year terms. Gulati had served
as USSF Vice President since 2000.

www.CONCACAF.com