February 4 – The Union of Central American Football (UNCAF) has said that it will play its next championship for national teams, the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana, in the US, most likely 1-13 September 2014, in the FIFA window for international fixtures.
This is the first time the championship will have been played outside one of Central American countries that make up UNCAF.
UNCAF is made up of seven nations – Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama – all of whom have significant fan support in the US.
UNCAF is currently conducting site visits before it makes announcements on host cities, stadiums, competition format, match schedule and groupings. The intention being to match cities to fan bases as far as possible. Los Angeles, Washington, Dallas and Houston are favourites to host.
The top five finishers in the competition qualify for the 2015 Gold Cup, CONCACAF’s premier regional championship for national teams.
By holding Copa Centroamerica in the US it will enable more of the regions top players to take part – many play for teams in the US and Mexico.
Current champions Costa Rica hosted the last championship which is played every two years and will be in its thirteenth edition in the US.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734937530labto1734937530ofdlr1734937530owedi1734937530sni@n1734937530osloh1734937530cin.l1734937530uap1734937530