Concacaf President provides good luck message to region’s six men’s national teams competing in Copa America 2024
- Montagliani explains how partnership with CONMEBOL complements growth of Concacaf competitions as region builds towards 2026
Due to a strategic partnership between Concacaf and CONMEBOL, the Copa America 2024 is being hosted in the Concacaf region and co-organized by both Confederations. In addition to the 10 CONMEBOL men’s national teams, six Concacaf guest teams who qualified through the Nations League will also participate, making this a 16-team cross continental championship.
From Concacaf, the six national teams which qualified are: Costa Rica, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and the United States.
Ahead of the opening match between Canada and Argentina, Concacaf President Victor Montagliani wished the best of luck to the Concacaf teams, and to everyone at CONMEBOL and Concacaf who have worked to bring this tournament to life.
President Montagliani said:
“The six Concacaf teams should be congratulated on qualifying. On behalf of Concacaf, our 41 Members and our Council, we wish them all the best for a fantastic tournament and a great experience. I think it will be a great tournament for our teams.
Commenting on the partnership between both Confederations, Montagliani added:
“First and foremost, I want to thank our friends at CONMEBOL. The relationship I have with President Alejandro Dominguez, we have had eight years together on the FIFA Council, and the relationship between the two Confederations is excellent.
“This partnership was born – not out of an ad-hoc agreement – but out of a strategy. After the 2016 Copa America (Centenario), we in Concacaf embarked on a football first strategy, ensuring that we would build our own capacities and competitions. And we did so, through our Gold Cup, through our Nations League and through our club competitions.
“It was important for us that we rebuilt our Confederation and over the past few years, in talking with President Alejandro Dominguez and the CONMEBOL team, we thought it was another opportunity to have this event in our Confederation and to come together.
“It was also part of our strategy looking forward to the World Cup in 2026, to provide our teams with the opportunity to qualify for Copa America through our Nations League, and then to have six teams participating in it. It gives an opportunity for these teams to prepare not only for World Cup qualifiers but for the World Cup in 2026 itself.
“Every Confederation understands that official competitions are better for fans, better for players and better for the overall football product. So, this was important for us to do this, and we are very happy with the result, and we look forward to a great tournament.”
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