Necaxa of Mexico advanced to the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil with a 2-1 victory over Alajuela of Costa Rica. Alex Aguinaga completed his tournament MVP performance with a flying scissor-kick volley from 10 yards out on a perfectly placed cross from the left wing. The winning goal came in the 66th minute for the mexican club after a penalty kick goal from Josef miso.
Necaxa of Mexico advanced to the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil with a 2-1 victory over Alajuela of Costa Rica. Alex Aguinaga completed his tournament MVP performance with a flying scissor-kick volley from 10 yards out on a perfectly placed cross from the left wing. The winning goal came in the 66th minute for the mexican club after a penalty kick goal from Josef miso.
Necaxa of Mexico advanced to the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil with a 2-1 victory over Alajuela of Costa Rica. Alex Aguinaga completed his tournament MVP performance with a flying scissor-kick volley from 10 yards out on a perfectly placed cross from the left wing. The winning goal came in the 66th minute for the mexican club after a penalty kick goal from Josef miso.
Necaxa of Mexico advanced to the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil with a 2-1 victory over Alajuela of Costa Rica. Alex Aguinaga completed his tournament MVP performance with a flying scissor-kick volley from 10 yards out on a perfectly placed cross from the left wing. The winning goal came in the 66th minute for the mexican club after a penalty kick goal from Josef miso.
N ORTH , CE N T R A L A M E R I C A & CA R I B B E A N A S S O C I A T I O N F O O T B A L L
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1999 VOLUME 9 / NUMBER 4
Necaxa of Mexico wins the 1999 Champions Cup in Las Vegas Nevada Necaxa of Mexico advanced to the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil with a comefrom-behind 2-1 victory over Alajuela of Costa Rica in the blistering 100-plus degree temperature at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Necaxa earned one of eight spots in the prestigious tournament as representatives of The Football Confederation. Alex Aguinaga completed his tournament MVP performance with a flying scissor-kick volley from 10 yards out on a perfectly placed cross from the Edgar David Oliva to tie the score 1-1. The winning goal came in the 66th minute for Necaxa after tournament goal leader Agustin Delgado hit a cross from the left wing that was redirected on goal by Oliva. Oliva's touch deflected off Alajuela goalkeeper Alvaro Messen to the center of the goalkeeper area where an onrushing Sergio Vasquez sent it home. Alajuela jumped out in front on a 35th-minute penalty kick goal from Josef Miso, after the forward was tripped at the edge of the penalty area by Necaxa defender Jaime Hernandez. The Costa Rican club could have gone ahead 2-1 just one minute after the ejection of Necaxa midfielder German Villa in the 56th minute, but Josef Miso missed a penalty kick after being fouled a second time in the box by Hernandez. (continued on page 4) The FC 1999 Champions Cup winners, Necaxa Photo 1999 TONY QUINN
The FC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jack Austin Warner President Lisle Austin - Barbados Vice-President, Caribbean Zone Rafael Salguero - Guatemala Vice-President, Central Zone Alan Rothenberg - U.S.A. Vice-President, North Zone Anthony James - Jamaica Member, Caribbean Zone Sergio Torres - El Salvador Member, Central Zone Hugo Kiese - Mexico Member, North Zone Chuck Blazer General Secretary
The FC REPRESENTATIVES TO FIFA
Jack Austin Warner
FIFA Vice-President
Isaac Sasso
Executive Committee Member
Chuck Blazer
Executive Committee Member
Office of the President
Jack Austin Warner Edward and Oxford Street, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Phone: 1-868-625-9611 Fax: 1-868-625-9609 concacaf@cariblink.net
Office of the Deputy General Secretary
The FC/UNCAF Headquarters Oscar Thamar Torres 15 Avenida A 20-07, Zona 13, PO Box 916 Guatemala City, Guatemala C.A. Phone: 1-502-361-6996 Fax: 1-502-361-5577 concacaf@quetzal.net
Office of the Deputy General Secretary
The FC/CFU Headquarters Harold Taylor 131 Eastern Main Rd, Arouca, Trinidad W.I. Phone: 1-809-646-5753 Fax: 1-809-646-4076 cfu@wow.net
The FC NEWS Published at The FC Headquarters Office of the General Secretary 725 Fifth Avenue, Trump Tower, 17th Floor New York, NY 10022 Phone: 1-212-308-0044 Fax: 1-212-308-1851 concacafny@aol.com Editor Art Director Translation Production
Carlos Giron Michael Maselli Victoria Posloncec-Rospigliosi Nino Bussani Miguel Rivera
President Jack Warners Message
2000 - A Year of Action for The Football Confederation The coming twelve months are a time of almost uninterrupted international competition for the best teams that this Confederation has to offer. Already, we are proud to have sent the young men of Mexico, Jamaica and the United States on the long journey to New Zealand to compete in the FIFA Under 17 (Junior) World Championship. They will not be home long, and celebrating, we hope, before Necaxa fly down to Rio de Janeiro to confront Manchester United in the first game of the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship It is difficult to conceive of a more difficult opponent for the Mexican winners of the Champions Cup but we know they will face the task with determination and all our good wishes. From Brazil, the action will swiftly switch back north to our premier national team event, the Gold Cup, to be played in Los Angeles, Miami and San Diego, where we hope to repeat the playing and attendance success of the 1998 Gold Cup. With hardly a break, we move into almost two months of Olympic Games qualifying, starting in Cuba or the Dominican Republic (one to be deleted Oct 24 after the final game) and ending in the United States on April 30. Time to draw breath, and then it is on to the start of qualification for the World Cup of 2002, the inaugural Womens Gold Cup and the Olympic Games themselves before action moves indoors to the FIFA Futsal Championship in Guatemala. All this in addition to the normal week in, week out competition in domestic leagues and active national team programs outside the realm of tournaments organized by FIFA or this Confederation. Thus, all the more reason, and need, for everyone involved in the Football Confederation and its national associations to re-double their efforts in organization, communication and administration, so that we can properly support the events and the teams which carry our message and progress to the public.
The Football Confederation President,
Jack Warner, presents the Champions Cup trophy to Necaxa midfielder and tournament MVP Alex Aguinaga Photo 1999 Tony Quinn
The FC Executive Committee Meeting
New York City, December 1999 The Executive Committee, meeting for the first time under the name of The Football Confederation, will have more than fifty agenda items to review and discuss at their meeting in New York on December 12- 14. Current and future competitions will be an important part of the agenda, as the football calendar moves closer to four important international events. In the immediate future, the Football Confederation now has three teams in New Zealand for the FIFA Junior World Championship which begin shortly. Close on the heels of the tournament is the new round of qualification for the Olympic Games of 2000, the Gold Cup of 2000 and the start of qualifications for the World Cup of 2002. The Executive Committee will review the number of Football Confederation countries which have entered the World Cup and give final approval to the format for the preliminary rounds which are expected to begin next spring. The first Women's Gold Cup, to be held next year, will also figure on the agenda with deliberation on the dates and venues for that important new tournament. There will also be consideration of plans for two FIFA events to be held within the region over the coming two years - the
The FC Hosted FIFA
Executive Committee Meeting In Las Vegas At the invitation of The Football Confederation President Jack Warner and General Secretary Chuck Blazer, the FIFA Executive Committee held a meeting October 1-2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting coincided with The Football Confederations Champions Cup which was also held in Las Vegas. Following the meeting held at the MGM Grand hotel under the chairmanship of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee announced ratification of an agreement reached between FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. In the agreement, Asia was allotted 4 places in the FIFA World Cup and one play-off to be contested with Europe. At this meeting, the FIFA Executive Committee reiterated the number of places per continent as follows :
The Football Confederations Executive Committee
FIFA Futsal (Indoor) World Championship in Guatemala, in
2000, and the FIFA Under 17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago, in 2001. The Executive Committee will also receive reports on events already held, including the highly successful FIFA Women's World Cup and FIFA Confederation's Cup, both held within the Football Confederation and both won by countries of the Confederation, the USA and Mexico respectively. Reports from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), the Union of Central American Football (UNCAF), the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence and the various departments of the Confederation will round out the agenda.
THE FC: 3 places
UEFA: 14 places (including France as world champions) plus one play-off AFC: 4 places (including Japan and Korea as hosts) plus one play-off CONMEBOL: 4 places plus one play-off OFC: 1 play-off place CAF: 5 places
The pairings for the play-offs were
fixed as follows : Europe against Asia, and South America against Oceania. The Asian request that the Asian team playoff against the Oceania representative, was not accepted. The Committee also set the dates for the finals in Japan and Korea, with the opening match in Korea on 1 June and the final in Japan on 30 June 2002. This
decision followed studies by the respective confederations of the potential
impact of beginning the tournament earlier, in late May. Looking ahead to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, it was decided that the Executive Committee would select the host nation at its meeting in Zurich on 5/6 July 2000. Other subjects discussed: A study group to examine the feasibility of introducing a World Cup for players aged over 35 years. Special attention to womens football to follow up on the success of the Womens World Cup, in order to increase participation worldwide by at least 10 per-cent annually. A study for the possibility of a Womens Youth World Cup. A joint FIFA/UEFA delegation to meet with leaders of the European Union in Brussels, to discuss sportspolitical matters. A benefit football match, possibly in Germany, to aid victims of the earthquake in Turkey.
Necaxa To Open The
2000 FIFA Club World Championship Against Manchester United Necaxa, club champions of The Football Confederation, were drawn against Europe's best, Manchester United, for the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship. The eight finalists were drawn into two groups of four; the winners of which will play in the final on January 14. The runners up will play for third and fourth place. Necaxa, who won the Champions' Cup in Las Vegas last month, are in Group B, and will play at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on January 5, 2000. Others in Group B are 1998 Copa Libertadores champions Vasco da Gama of Brazil, South Melbourne of Australia and the triple-winning Manchester United, who Necaxa will play first. Manchester United last year won the English Premiership, the FA Cup and the European Champions League, and are currently regarded as the most successful club in world football. Group A, to be played in Sao Paulo, includes: Real Madrid, Al Nassr, Corinthians and the African team who will be decided in December. The groups for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, 5-14 January are: Group A: Real Madrid (Spain) Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Corinthians (Brazil) CAF team (TBD in December) Group B: Manchester United (United Kingdom) Necaxa (Mexico) Vasco da Gama (Brazil) South Melbourne (Australia)
Sergio Vasquez of Necaxa dribbles past two Alajuela defenders during the 1999 Champions Cup Photo 1999 Tony Quinn
(continued from front page)
In the third place match, D.C. United and the Chicago Fire shared honors after a spirited 2-2 draw which saw the Fire come from two goals down in the second half behind strikes from Ante Razov and Jesse Marsch. D.C. United got goals from A.J. Wood and Antonio Otero to jump ahead 2-0. The Football Confederation Champions Cup Final Game Report Alajuela (Costa Rica) vs. Necaxa (Mexico) Date: October 3, 1999; 4:00 p.m. PT kickoff Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium; Las Vegas, Nevada Attendance: 9,763, Weather: 101 degrees clear Scoring Summary: Alajuela - Josef Miso (penalty kick) 35th minute. Necaxa - Alex Aguinaga (Edgar David Oliva) 47 Sergio Vazquez (Edgar David Oliva) 66. Competing teams: 1998 CONCACAF champions D.C. United (USA), USA champions Chicago Fire, Summer tournament champions Toluca (Mexico), Winter tournament champions Necaxa (Mexico), Central American champions Olimpia (Honduras), Central American runner up Alajuela (Costa Rica), Costa Rican champions Saprissa, and Caribbean champions Joe Public (Trinidad and Tobago). All Results 28.09.99 28.09.99 29.09.00 29.09.99 Semi-Finals 01.10.99 01.10.99 Third Place 03.10.99 Final 03.10.99
Fire vs. Joe Public
Alajuela vs. Toluca D.C. United vs. Olimpia Necaxa vs. Saprissa
Tournament Best Goalkeeper: Alvaro Mesen, Alajuela. Golden Boot (top striker): Agustin Delgado, Necaxa (three goals). Fair Play award: Alajuela. The prize pool for the The FC tournament is $300,000.
Gold Cup Begins in Miamis Orange
Bowl on February 12: United States against Haiti Kicks Off the Twelve Team Tournament The United States and Haiti will open the Football Confederations Gold Cup, 2000, in Miamis Orange Bowl on February 12 before the games move on to Los Angeles and San Diego. After 19 games between the twelve national teams, the first champion of the new millenium will be awarded the Gold Cup at the Los Angeles Coliseum on February 27. The announcement of the groups and full schedule was made at the Football Confederation offices in New York today by General Secretary and FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer. The 12 teams were divided into four groups of three, with two groups being based in Miami, one in San Diego and one in Los Angeles. The top two in each group will play in the quarter finals in Miami and San Diego on February 19, 20, with the semi finals in San Diego and Los Angeles on February 23, 24. All games, except the semi finals and final, will be played as double headers in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and the Los Angeles Coliseum. Mexico battled the USA in the last Gold Cup Final in February 1998 1998 PAM/ISI
Gold Cup 2000 Groupings and Schedules
Group A - Jamaica, Colombia, Honduras at Miami Group B - USA, Peru, Haiti at Miami Group C - Mexico, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago at San Diego Group D - Costa Rica, South Korea, Canada at Los Angeles February 12 - Saturday - Miami 7 pm USA vs Haiti 9 pm Colombia vs Jamaica February 13 - Sunday - San Diego 12 pm Costa Rica vs Canada 2 pm Mexico vs Trinidad February 14 - Monday - Miami 7 pm Jamaica vs Honduras 9 pm Haiti vs Peru February 15 - Tuesday - Los Angeles 7 pm Trinidad vs Guatemala 9 pm S Korea vs Canada February 16 - Wednesday - Miami 7 pm Honduras vs Colombia 9 pm Peru vs USA February 17 - Thursday - Los Angeles 7 pm South Korea vs Costa Rica 9 pm Mexico vs Guatemala February 19 - Saturday - Miami 3 pm Winner Group B vs Runner Up Group A 5:30 pm Winner Group A vs Runner up Group B February 20 - Sunday - San Diego 12 pm Winner Group D vs Runner Up Group C 2:30 pm Winner Group C vs Runner Up Group D February 23 - Wednesday - San Diego - Semi Final 8 pm Winners of Miami Quarter Finals February 24 - Thursday - Los Angeles - Semi Final 8 pm Winners of San Diego Quarter Finals February 27 - Sunday - Los Angeles - Final 12 pm Winners of the Semi-Finals Gold Cup 2000 Playoffs Final Standings and Results GP W L T GF/GA PTS Canada 3 2 0 1 4:2 7 Cuba 3 1 1 1 3:2 4 Haiti 3 1 1 1 3:3 4 El Salvador 3 0 2 1 3:6 1 * Haiti advances based on its victory over Cuba 06.10.99 06.10.99 08.10.99 08.10.99 10.10.99 10.10.99
Canada vs Cuba El Salvador vs. Haiti Cuba vs. Haiti El Salvador vs. Canada El Salvador vs. Cuba Canada vs. Haiti
0:0 1:1 0:1 1:2 1:3 2:1
CONCACAF Now Called
The Football Confederation A new name, logo and web site have been introduced by the controlling body for football in the regions of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Known since its formation in 1961 by the acronym CONCACAF, the Continental Confederation of FIFA which oversees the activities of 38 member associations will now be known as The Football Confederation. The new logo shows a pentagon, split into three blocks by the figure of a soccer player. The three blocks represent the three regions of The Football Confederation. Jack Warner, President of The Football Confederation, said: We thought it was time to make a change, to present a more vibrant and modern image to a part of the world which is making such headway in the game. Now, instead of an awkward acronym, we have three simple and appropriate words.
General Secretary Chuck Blazer said: Our official name
remains the same Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football but the new name is easier to say and easier to understand. It also takes the two most important words of our full title Football and Confederation and uses them as our new name, brand and address on the web, the communication tool which, over time, will mean so much to all our members and their respective public. While the web site will continue to be expanded over the coming months, the media and fans will find updated information on important tournaments of The Football Confederation and its members, as well as previously unavailable historical information on competitions and other activities. Among other things, the new web site provides daily updates of our official competitions, information about member national associations and their national leagues, text of official regulations and statutes, historical statistics and full access to the archives ofour official newsletters. The new web site can be reached at www.FootballConfederation.com.
Visit The FCs
new Website The new Football Confederation website, www.footballconfederation.com, will become the principal means of communication between members of the confederation and the world at large. Already, the site is able to provide timely information on events and personalities within the region, as well as considerable historical and archival detail. However, the work has only just begun. In time, website will provide much more information and game results in real time, updated with frequency, as well as a complete historical and statistical review of the Confederation and its member national associations. The volume of collected data is increasing weekly and will increase even more when national associations respond to research requests and provide their necessary information, as well as links to their own web sites. Many requests for information from the media and the general public, in many parts of the world, have been received and answered on, or through, the web site.
The United States Kicks Off The 1999 FIFA U-17
World Championship vs Host New Zealand The United States will play in the opening match of the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship against host New Zealand on November 10th. The USA is in Group A, which also includes Uruguay and Poland. The final draw for the 5th FIFA U-17 World Championship placed first time qualifier Jamaica in Group D with Paraguay, Burkina Faso and Quatar. The junior Reggae Boyz open against Burkina Faso, November 12 in Dunedin. Mexico was drawn into Group B with Spain, Ghana and Thailand. The Mexicans will make their debut on November 11 against Thailand in Napier. 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship Grouping and Scheduling is: Group A: (Auckland) New Zealand, UNITED STATES, Uruguay, Poland Group B: (Napier) Ghana, Spain, MEXICO, Thailand Group C: (Christchurch) Brazil, Australia, Mali, Germany Group D: (Dunedin) JAMAICA, Burkina Faso, Paraguay, Qatar Date No. 10.11.99 1 11.11.99 2 11.11.99 3 11.11.99 4 12.11.99 5 12.11.99 6 12.11.99 7 12.11.99 8 13.11.99 9 13.11.99 10 13.11.99 11 13.11.99 12 14.11.99 13 14.11.99 14 14.11.99 15 14.11.99 16 16.11.99 17 16.11.99 18 16.11.99 19 16.11.99 20 17.11.99 21 17.11.99 22 17.11.99 23 17.11.99 24 Quarterfinals: 20.11.99 25 20.11.99 26 21.11.99 27 21.11.99 28 Semifinals: 24.11.99 29 24.11.99 30 Finals: 27.11.99 31 27.11.99 32
Next Round Of Olympic
Qualifying Games Confirmed The next three group stages of qualification for the Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney, Australia, are now complete. The last two to qualify were Trinidad and Tobago, after a 2-2 draw in Barbados, and Cuba, winners over the Dominican Republic. Cuba had to wait a week because, Hurricane Irene caused flight cancellations for the team, the Match Commissioner, Lisle Austin of Barbados, and game officials. Cuba up 4-0 on the first leg in the Dominican Republic, duly won again to enter Group A.
Match New Zealand vs.USA Ghana vs. Spain MEXICO vs. Thailand Uruguay vs. Poland Brazil vs. Australia Mali vs. Germany JAMAICA vs. Burkina Faso Paraguay vs. Qatar Spain vs. Thailand Ghana vs. MEXICO New Zealand vs. Uruguay USA vs. Poland Australia vs. Germany Brazil vs. Mali Burkina Faso vs. Qatar JAMAICA vs. Paraguay Thailand vs. Ghana Spain vs. MEXICO Poland vs. New Zealand USA vs. Uruguay Germany vs. Brazil Australia vs. Mali Qatar vs. JAMAICA Burkina Faso vs. Paraguay
Confederation's qualifying competition for the Olympic Football Tournament, Sydney 2000 is as follows: Twelve teams have been placed in three groups of four and will compete in a round robin, with the top two teams earning a berth to the finals to be held in the United States, April 21-30, 2000. As hosts, the United States receives a bye into the finals. Each group will play in a different venue. The venues and schedule will be announced. Here is how the teams are grouped: GROUP A USA (bye), Panama, Cuba, Bermuda GROUP B Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras GROUP C Canada, Guatemala, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago
The Football Confederation Calendar Of Events
1999
EVENT
LOCATION
10-27 November
FIFA U-17 World Championship
12-14 December
The FC Executive Committee Meeting
New Zealand New York
2000 5 - 14 January
FIFA Club World Championship
Brazil
12 - 27 February
The FC Gold Cup
March
The FC Olympic Qualifier First Round Group A
TBA
March
The FC Olympic Qualifier First Round Group B
TBA
April
The FC Olympic Qualifier First Round Group C
TBA
21 - 30 April
The FC Olympic Qualifier Final Round
USA
May 13
The FC Congress
July
The FC Womens Gold Cup
TBA
July
FIFA Five a Side Qualifying Tournament
TBA
13-30 September
Olympic Football Tournament
November
FIFA Futsal World Championship
November
The FC U-17 Qualifying Tournament
TBA
January
The FC U-20 Qualifying Tournament
TBA
April
FIFA U-17 World Championship
Trinidad & Tobago
TBA
FIFA U-20 World Championship
Argentina
Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles
Nassau, Bahamas
Sydney,Australia Guatemala
2001
U.S. Soccer To Experiment With Two-Referee System The FIFA Referees Committee has authorized the US Soccer Federation to experiment with using two referees simultaneously on the field. The USSF has been cleared to try the experiment in one of their domestic competitions. National associations of Malaysia, Egypt, Brazil and Italy were also appointed to conduct this experiment. The associations have been asked to send to FIFA the complete calendar of all their matches due to be officiated by two referees. Once the calendar of matches has been set, a member of the FIFA Referees Committee will visit the countries involved to organize a one-day course with the help of the referees committee of the respective national association, and to coach the match officials and referees inspectors concerned regarding the parameters.
