November 17 – UEFA launched its Nations League last month, now CONCACAF has launched its new League of Nations national team competition. Like UEFA’s new format, CONCACAF will also be based their competition on a league structure.
The new structure will be based on a three league structure with teams playing home and away for league titles and performance prizes, that will include promotion and relegation. The 41 nations will also be competing for qualification to international championships including the confederation’s blue riband bi-annual tournament, the Gold Cup.
The League of Nations results will create CONCACAF’s own ranking system that will be used as the basis for future World Cup qualifying seeding.
“This is a watershed moment for CONCACAF. By focusing on football to provide all our teams with year-round, quality competition, the League of Nations platform means everyone wins,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani (president).
“This new tournament is highly beneficial to all our Member Associations and fans everywhere, since it provides significant opportunities to play important competitive matches with increased regularity throughout the year.”
The objective of the new format is provide higher quality and more meaningful matches for all the confederation’s national teams. The schedule and structure of the league will be unveiled in early 2018, but the competition will be played year round.
The increased participation by national teams is expected to stimulate regional development, “and keep the dream of international football alive year-round for more nations,” said a CONCACAF press release.
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