Chillan... another new stadium and thanks from the Mayor

With a look to the future...

Chuck had lunch with Emilio Azcarraga Jean in Santiago Chile, during the FIFA Women's U20 World Cup, where they had time to renew their long standing friendship.

Coquimbo... the new stadium and a Thank You...

Following our departure there was a 4.8 earthquake centered 15km from Coquimbo on Saturday. No damage, but like James Bond, shake not stirred.

Getting there can be half the fun...

Needing to be in three cities in two days and four matches, had our staff packed into a small jet to get us to Temuco from Santiago and then to La Serena later the same night where we overnighted in Coquimbo and will go to the double header there this afternoon before heading back to Santiago following the nightcap.

In my role as Chairman...

Finally. In Chile...

Final Round of World Cup Qualifying Set...

Final phase draw of the Concacaf qualifiers for the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa - Jack Warner, FIFA Vice President/CONCACAF President studies the fixtures created by the draw

CONCACAF EXCO meets in New York...

For Immediate Release
www.CONCACAF.com

Contact: Steven Torres, Media Officer
CONCACAF +1/212 308 0044
steve.torres@concacaf.org

CONCACAF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TIGHTENS STADIUM STANDARDS FOR NEXT YEAR’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

NEW YORK (Friday, 7 November 2008) - The initial success of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League™ led the confederation’s Executive Committee on Friday to require teams participating in next year’s tournament to find a suitable stadium within its own country or risk being replaced.

The seven-member board. led by CONCACAF President Jack Warner of Trinidad & Tobago, agreed to tighten the stadium standards after allowing teams in this year’s inaugural tournament to play its home games within its region if its regular home venue did not have adequate facilities such as power supply, floodlighting and locker rooms.

The method of replacing disqualified teams also was approved. Three Caribbean teams advance to the Champions League through a regional tournament and therefore would simply elevate the fourth-place finisher. If any of the 12 qualified Central American teams are precluded, it would be supplanted by a club from Honduras based on results from this year’s Champions League.

Other Champions League news included the quarterfinal draw being set for 10 December, when each group winner will be paired against a group runner-up for the two-leg knockout round set for 24-26 February and 3-5 March.

The board also decided to review its qualifying procedures for the men’s U-17 and U-20 championships beginning in 2011. The present system has both Central America and the Caribbean staging separate qualifying tournaments to determine two berths each in the eight-team championship, and then having one team from each region play off to determine a fifth place. The three North American teams: Canada, Mexico and the United States, qualify automatically. The matter was sent to the youth committee to devise specific proposals.

Additionally, the committee was informed that the six teams advancing to the final round of World Cup qualifying will learn their match schedule during a draw to be staged 22 November in South Africa in conjunction with the FIFA Confederations Cup draw. The USA, Costa Rica and El Salvador already have clinched their places in the “hexagonal” with the remaining three places to be decided 19 November.

The board also heard that seminars run by CONCACAF in cooperation with FIFA to improve administration, refereeing and coaching increased dramatically this year. Forty-four courses will be conducted by the end of the year, up from the 10 in 2007.

About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.

CONCACAF's staff Strike Out Mariano Rivera during party at TAO

Three strikes and you're out. Here Kerri-Ann Alleyne Marcelle, Doris Fernandez and Linda Nihot struck out Yankee's star relief pitcher Mariano Rivera's security guys to permit his to take this special photo with end year party revelers at the CONCACAF party and dinner for the Executive Committee. One hundred and twenty two guests dined on the delicious Asian cuisine of TAO, a perennial New York hot spot.

A Great Dinner to Kick off the Executive Committee meeting...

A most gracious concession...

Congratulations...

America comes of age...

Our Adriana gives birth to Izabella...

More Halloween Fun...

Grandchildren Dylan and Drew were in the spirit as they hit the streets to fill up with plenty of treats... who could refuse kids like these?