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CONCACAF will be lobbying FIFA for four automatic spots for the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010

SEEKING AN EXTRA CUP SPOT: CONCACAF wants four places in 2010

Nov. 25, 2006

LOS ANGELES---CONCACAF will be lobbying FIFA for four automatic spots for the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010. Currently the confederation has three automatic places, and plays off for a fourth position.

The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago qualified for the 2006 World Cup.

"When we look at the performance of CONCACAF?s fourth team in Germany 2006, Trinidad & Tobago, we see a team that not only held Sweden to a draw but was also just minutes from achieving a similar result against England,? said CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer. ?Certainly there is an excellent case that CONCACAF has the strength in depth to justify four automatic spots in the 2010 World Cup."

In addition, CONCACAF?s Executive Committee, meeting in Los Angeles as part of the Women?s Gold Cup, made two decision to foster the advancement of women?s soccer.

Starting in 2007, all member associations will be required to have a representative on their own Executive Committee responsible for the development and management of a women?s soccer program. CONCACAF will also support a proposed bid by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation to host the U17 FIFA Women?s World Cup in 2010.

In other decisions, the CONCACAF Executive committee decided to:

? mandate CONCACAF?s representatives to FIFA to pursue the immediate implementation of the Referees Assistance Program (RAP), the proposed Program having previously been accepted by the FIFA Executive Committee. The RAP is aimed at increasing the quality of refereeing at all levels of soccer around the world by supporting a structure at the national association level to develop referees.

? further request that, in recognition of the increased number of mandatory events organized by Confederations, CONCACAF representative?s to FIFA lobby for an increase in FIFA Assistance Program funding for the Confederations. The FAP to Confederations has not been increased for eight years although in this same period the number of events in the global soccer calendar has increased dramatically.

? act upon, at the next Executive committee meeting, a proposal by the CONCACAF Secretariat to develop the CONCACAF Champions? Cup? into a larger ?Champions? League? style event, beginning in 2009.