Uruguayan national soccer team players Diego Perez (L) and Edison Cavani celebrate with the Copa America trophy in 2011
NEW YORK, NY ● Officials from the football governing bodies of North America and South America spoke on Wednesday in Brazil about staging a combined event in 2016 as well as other partnerships between the groups.
Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) president Jeffrey Webb met with officials of South American federation CONMEBOL, which will celebrate its centennial in 2016.
In a statement on its website, CONCACAF revealed that talks included the potential of included CONCACAF nations in the tournament, an idea that has been discussed in general terms for several years.
Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica are among the CONCACAF teams that have played as guest teams in the South American championship tournament, Copa America, in past years.
The meeting also include joint projects in such areas as referee development and technical programs.
“The discussions were held in a spirit of genuine cooperation,” said Webb, elected CONCACAF’s president in May. “I look forward to further talks and building a stronger relationship between our confederations.”
CONCACAF’s continental championship, the Gold Cup, is staged in odd-numbered years while the Copa America in South America has been staged every four years since 1999.
