CONCACAF
On the 18th of September 1961, representatives from North America and Central America gathered in Mexico City to sign a new agreement. This meeting marked the official birth of CONCACAF as it exists today. The organization was formed by merging two existing bodies: the North American Football Confederation and the Confederación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Fútbol. Thirteen founding members signed the initial statutes that day. These nations included Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and the United States. The merger created one of six continental confederations affiliated with FIFA at that time. The name chosen for this new entity was the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.
The executive committee of CONCACAF consists of eight specific individuals who hold distinct roles within the hierarchy. One president leads the body while three vice-presidents represent different geographic zones. Three additional members serve on the board alongside one female member. Each of the three geographic zones holds representation through these positions. The North American zone elects one vice-president and one member. The Central American zone follows the same pattern. The Caribbean zone also secures its own vice-president and member seat. This structure ensures that every region has a voice in decision-making processes. The first leader to oversee the 1961 merger was Ramón Coll Jaumet from Costa Rica. He served until 1969 when Joaquín Soria Terrazas took over the presidency. Soria held the position for twenty-one years before Jack Warner succeeded him in 1990. Warner remained in power for another twenty-one years until his resignation in June 2011. Jeffrey Webb became president in May 2012 but was arrested in Zurich on corruption charges by May 2015. Victor Montagliani was elected as the current president in May 2016.
Legal counsel John P. Collins presented evidence of financial irregularities at the CONCACAF Congress in Budapest, Hungary during May 2012. The investigation revealed that former President Jack Warner had registered a $22 million development project under two companies he owned. This asset was known as the Dr. João Havelange Centre of Excellence located in Port-of-Spain. A mortgage taken out against this property in 2007 defaulted without the knowledge of other members. Lisle Austin co-signed the loan before it failed. Collins also disclosed that CONCACAF had not paid any taxes to the Internal Revenue Service since at least 2007 despite having an administration office in New York. Chuck Blazer resigned from his post as general secretary following these revelations. He stated that a full financial audit by BDO was delayed due to actions taken by Warner and his personal accountant. Blazer later sued CONCACAF for unpaid commissions on sponsorship deals made in 2010. Several officials were indicted including Blazer himself and Warner's son. Warner was suspended from football activities on the 30th of May 2011 after corruption allegations surfaced. He resigned from all posts on the 20th of June 2011.
The Gold Cup has been held every two years since 1991 to determine the regional champion. Mexico dominates men's competitions with the most titles won. The United States has won the majority of editions alongside Mexico. Costa Rica became the fourth country to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014. Panama participated in the World Cup for the first time in 2018. The Nations League was established in 2018 with the United States winning three editions. Jamaica holds the distinction of being the smallest country to win a World Cup match when they defeated Japan 2, 1 in 1998. Cuba reached the quarter-finals in 1938 while Mexico hosted tournaments in 1970 and 1986. The United States reached the semi-finals in the inaugural 1930 edition. No team from the region has ever reached the final at the World Cup. The 1970 tournament attracted a record television audience and featured attacking football that set goals per game records. The 1994 tournament saw average attendance of nearly 69,000 breaking previous records. Canada, Mexico, and the United States jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup began as an annual competition in 1962 for top clubs across the region. Mexican clubs have accumulated thirty-six titles making them the most successful league. Club América and Cruz Azul each hold seven titles individually. Costa Rica's Primera División follows with six total victories. From 2024 onwards twenty-seven teams compete including eighteen from North America, six from Central America, and three from the Caribbean. The knockout tournament runs from February through April. The winner qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup. The title was previously known as the CONCACAF Champions League before reverting to its original name. Other competitions include the Leagues Cup which features American and Mexican club matchups. The CONCACAF Central American Cup and Caribbean Cup serve as qualifiers for regional champions. The CONCACAF W Champions Cup represents women's club football. The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup provides additional competitive opportunities. The CONCACAF Under-13 Champions League offers youth development pathways.
The Caribbean Football Union contains thirty-one members while the North American zone has only three nations. Despite having fewer members, the Caribbean bloc can outvote both the North American and Central American unions combined. This dynamic created a fractious relationship between the three main regions. Jack Warner leveraged this voting power during his twenty-one year presidency. He acted as a party whip ensuring CFU members voted together as a unit. Sports commentators referred to these coordinated votes as the Caribbean bloc vote. Warner rejected proposals in 1993 to merge smaller national teams into a Pan-Caribbean entity. He argued that nations were more powerful politically when separate than when united. His reasoning stated that being small is never a liability in this sport. Acting President Alfredo Hawit lobbied in 2011 for the presidency to rotate among the three unions. The North American Football Union remains the smallest association union but possesses strong commercial support from sponsors. They are also the most populous nations in the region. Greenland officially applied for full membership in May 2024 but was unanimously rejected by the congress in June 2025.
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Common questions
When was CONCACAF officially formed and where did the founding meeting take place?
CONCACAF was officially formed on the 18th of September 1961 during a meeting in Mexico City. Representatives from North America and Central America signed new statutes that day to merge existing bodies.
Who is the current president of CONCACAF and when was he elected?
Victor Montagliani is the current president of CONCACAF who was elected in May 2016. He took office after Jeffrey Webb resigned following corruption charges in June 2015.
Which country has won the most titles in the CONCACAF Champions Cup history?
Mexican clubs have accumulated thirty-six titles making them the most successful league in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Club América and Cruz Azul each hold seven individual titles within this record.
Why does the Caribbean bloc hold significant voting power within CONCACAF despite having fewer members?
The Caribbean Football Union contains thirty-one members while the North American zone has only three nations. This dynamic allows the Caribbean bloc to outvote both the North American and Central American unions combined.
When will Greenland apply for full membership in CONCACAF and what was the result?
Greenland officially applied for full membership in May 2024 but was unanimously rejected by the congress in June 2025. The rejection occurred despite the territory seeking official recognition as a member nation.