Holders...USA
wonthe 2019 -2 0
editionthanksto
ChristianPulisic
hefirsteditionof
theCONCACAF
NationsLeague
producedoneofthe
mostdramaticfinals
thatanycompetition
hasseen in recentyears,asUSAand
Mexico servedupa five-goalthrillerin
Denverin 2020. ChristianPulisicnetted
thewinningpenaltyinextra-timeforthe
homesidetosealtheinauguraltrophy,
yet,forthevastmajority of theteams
involved,simplytakingpartwas the
reward.
InEurope,the NationsLeague
waspartly introducedtostopteams
playingmeaninglessfriendlies.Butin
theCONCACAFregion,the introduction
ofthe tournamentwas fortotally
differentreasons.
Somemembersbarelyplayed at
all,withnationalassociationsunwilling
todivertfundsintoplayinggames
thatinevitablyproducedone-sided
encountersandhumblingdefeats.
TheNationsLeaguechangedall that.
“It’sbrilliantforthesmall countries,”
saysWillieDonachie,the former
Scotlandinternationalwhonow
managesMontserrat.“Wewouldn’t
haveplayedfor twoyearswithout
FIFAandCONCACAF.”
EgbertLacle,presidentoftheAruba
FootballFederation,agreesthatregular
Nations League kick-off
2022-23campaigngivesmatchopportunitiestolowly-rankedCONCACAFsides
T
gamesare themainbenefit.He says:
“Sincethefirstedition[in 2019 -20],
wecouldfinally startconsideringour
nationalteamasanintegralpartof
theassociation,becausefinallythe
teamisguaranteeda minimumof
fourmatchesa year.”
Withsmallgroups predominantlyof
justthreeteams,there arefinemargins
betweenpromotionandrelegation;
every matchandpointcountsin the
NationsLeague,whichalsoservesas a
qualifierfor theCONCACAFGoldCup.
Atthe top,thequartet of topseeds
- Mexico,CostaRica,Canadaandthe
USA– willbe expectedtocomfortably
advancefromtheirrespective groups
tothe four-teamfinalsinJune 2023 ,
thoughthiscompetitionisofsecondary
Competing...
Montserratv El
Salvadoratthelast
NationsLeague
84 WORLDSOCCER
CONCACAF
STEVEMENARY
