CONCACAF Nations League

Last updated

CONCACAF Nations League
CONCACAF Nations League.svg
Organizing body CONCACAF
Founded2018;6 years ago (2018)
RegionNorth America
Number of teams41
Qualifier for Gold Cup & Copa América
Current champion(s)Flag of the United States.svg  United States (3rd title)
Most successful team(s)Flag of the United States.svg  United States (3 titles)
Website Nations League
Soccerball current event.svg 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League

The CONCACAF Nations League (Spanish : Liga de Naciones CONCACAF, French : Ligue des Nations de la CONCACAF) is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America. The tournament takes place on dates allocated for international friendlies on the FIFA International Match Calendar. A one-time qualifying tournament took place from September 2018 to March 2019 and the inaugural tournament began in September 2019. [1] [2]

Contents

History and format

The tournament was announced in November 2017. [3] It is divided into three tiered leagues, A, B, and C, of four groups each, with promotion and relegation between the leagues based on finishing position within groups. The group winners of League A enter a four-team knockout competition to be crowned champion, while the group winners of Leagues B and C are promoted to the next tier. In Leagues A and B, the four teams at the bottom of the groups are relegated to the next lower tier. [4] The tournament also determines which national teams qualify for the next edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. [3]

The format proposals were first formally investigated at the XXXII CONCACAF Ordinary Congress in Oranjestad, Aruba on 8 April 2017 [5] [6] and confirmed by CONCACAF on 16 November 2017. [3] CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani stated that the purpose of the competition is to have a regular schedule of international fixtures for CONCACAF's national teams, noting that some teams play fewer than 10 games in a four-year period and needed more competitive games to assist the sport's development in those nations. [7] [8]

Adjustment from 2023–24

On 28 February 2023, CONCACAF announced a format change for the 2023–24 season of the CONCACAF Nations League. As a result, no teams will be relegated from the 2022–23 season. [9]

The size of League A will be increased from 12 to 16 teams, and will now feature a quarter-final round. The 12 lowest-ranked teams in the CONCACAF Rankings of March 2023 will enter the group stage, now using a Swiss-system tournament format. The teams will be divided into two groups of six teams, with each team playing four matches against group opponents (two at home and two away). The top four teams will advance to the quarter-finals and will be joined by the four top-ranked teams in the CONCACAF Rankings. The teams advancing from the group stage will be drawn into ties against the top-ranked teams, which will be played on a two-legged home-and-away basis.

League B will remain unchanged, featuring sixteen teams divided into four groups of four. Each team will play six matches in a double round-robin home-and-away format (three at home and three away). Following the format change, League C will be reduced from 13 to nine teams and four to three groups. Teams will be divided into three groups of three teams, with each team playing four matches in a double round-robin home-and-away format (two at home and two away). [9]

Promotion and relegation will resume for the 2023–24 season, with the fifth and sixth-placed teams in League A and the fourth-placed teams in League B being relegated for the next season. The group winners of Leagues B and C will be promoted, as will the best second-placed team of League C. [9]

Trophy

The CONCACAF Nations League trophy was unveiled eight days before the inaugural Nations League Finals. The trophy represents all 41 CONCACAF national associations and is made of silver-plated brass and stone. The trophy weighs 8 kg (18 lb) and is 52 cm (20 in) tall. [10]

Seasons

Each season of the CONCACAF Nations League is typically played from September to November (league phase), and March or June of the following year (Nations League Finals of League A). An exception was made in the 2022–23 season when the league phase was played from June 2022 to March 2023, due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup played in Qatar at the end of the year.

Results

Finals

Ed.SeasonHostFinalThird place play-off
WinnersScoreRunners-upThird placeScoreFourth place
1 2019–20
Finals
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3–2 ( a.e.t. )
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Flag of Mexico.svg
Mexico
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg
Honduras
2–2(5–4 p)
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Flag of Costa Rica.svg
Costa Rica
2 2022–23
Finals
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
2–0
Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
Flag of Mexico.svg
Mexico
1–0
Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
Flag of Panama.svg
Panama
3 2023–24
Finals
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
2–0
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Flag of Mexico.svg
Mexico
Flag of Jamaica.svg
Jamaica
1–0
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Flag of Panama.svg
Panama
4 2024–25
Finals

Performances by team

TeamWinnersRunners-upThird placeFourth placeTotal
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3 (2021, 2023, 2024)3
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2 (2021, 2024)1 (2023)3
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1 (2023)1
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras 1 (2021)1
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1 (2024)1
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 2 (2023, 2024)2
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 1 (2021)1

Team performances by season

National TeamSeasons in leagueSeason
2019–20 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
ABCLGMLGMLGMLGM
Flag of Anguilla.svg  Anguilla --4 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda -4- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba -22 B Red Arrow Down.svg C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas -22 C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B Red Arrow Down.svg C
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados -22 C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B Red Arrow Down.svg C
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize -31 B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Red Arrow Down.svg C
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 13- A Red Arrow Down.svg B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Bonaire.svg  Bonaire -13 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands --4 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4-- A Steady3.svg A 2 A Steady3.svg A
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands --4 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 4-- A 4 A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 31- A Red Arrow Down.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 31- A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A Red Arrow Down.svg B
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica -22 B Red Arrow Down.svg C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic -4- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 22- B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A Red Arrow Down.svg B
Flag of French Guiana.svg  French Guiana 13- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada 22- B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A Red Arrow Down.svg B
Flag of Guadeloupe (local).svg  Guadeloupe 121 C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 211 C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 13- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 22- A Red Arrow Down.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Red Arrow Down.svg B
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras 4-- A 3 A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 31- B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A 3 A
Flag-of-Martinique.svg  Martinique 4-- A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 4-- A 2 A 3 A 2 A
Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat -4- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 13- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg [lower-alpha 1] B [lower-alpha 1] Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 4-- A Steady3.svg A 4 A 4 A
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico -22 C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis -22 B Red Arrow Down.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Red Arrow Down.svg C
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia -31 B Red Arrow Down.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of France.svg  Saint Martin -13 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -4- B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg  Sint Maarten -22 C Steady3.svg C Green Arrow Up Darker.svg B Steady3.svg B
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 31- B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg A Steady3.svg A Steady3.svg A
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 31- A Red Arrow Down.svg B Green Arrow Up Darker.svg [lower-alpha 1] A [lower-alpha 1] Steady3.svg A
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg  Turks and Caicos Islands --4 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4-- A 1 A 1 A 1 A
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  U.S. Virgin Islands --4 C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C Steady3.svg C
  1. 1 2 3 4 Nicaragua originally qualified for promotion to League A as winners of League B Group C, but were disqualified due to fielding an ineligible player. As a result, they were replaced on 12 June 2023, by Trinidad and Tobago. Nicaragua replaced Trinidad and Tobago in League B [11]

Broadcasters

CONCACAF

Country/regionBroadcasterRef.
FreePay
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba Telearuba
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada OneSoccer [12]
Flag of CARICOM.svg  Caribbean Flow [12]
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador TCS Millicom [13]
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala RTVG
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Viva Nicaragua
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras TVC
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Repretel
Teletica
Multimedios TV
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico TV Azteca
TelevisaUnivision
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao TeleCuraçao
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica CVM (delayed)
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama RPC-TV
TVN
TVMax
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname ATV
STVS
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States CBS Paramount+ (English) [14] [15] [16]
CBS Sports Network (English, finals only)
Univision (Spanish) VIX

International

All matches are streamed through CONCACAF's streaming service CONCACAF GO.

Country/regionBroadcasterRef.
FreePay
Sport Klub
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei Astro SuperSport
Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands ESPN
South America

Awards

EditionBest PlayerTop scorerBest GoalkeeperBest young playerFair Play AwardRef
2019-20 Flag of the United States.svg Weston McKennie Flag of Suriname.svg Gleofilo Vlijter Flag of Honduras.svg Luis López Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados [17]
2022-23 Flag of the United States.svg Christian Pulisic Flag of Sint Maarten.svg Gerwin Lake Flag of the United States.svg Matt Turner Flag of Panama.svg Panama [18]
2023-24 Flag of the United States.svg Gio Reyna Flag of Guyana.svg Omari Glasgow Flag of the United States.svg Matt Turner Flag of Guyana.svg Omari Glasgow Flag of Panama.svg Panama [19]

See also

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References

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  2. "USMNT beat Canada 2-0 to win second CONCACAF Nations League". SoccerBrief. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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  9. 1 2 3 "CONCACAF announces formats for men's national team competitions for the 2023–2026 cycle". CONCACAF. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. "Concacaf Nations League Trophy unveiled ahead of Final Four". CONCACAF. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. "Concacaf Disciplinary Committee decision regarding Nicaragua and the Eligibility of Players" (Press release). CONCACAF. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Concacaf Nations League deal tightens OneSoccer's grip on Canadian soccer". Sports Business Media. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. "Tigo Sports acquires rights to Costa Rica Concacaf Nations League games". SportBusiness Media. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  14. "Concacaf and CBS Sports agree to multi-year media rights partnership for Concacaf Nations League and new Concacaf women's national team competitions". CONCACAF. 27 February 2021.
  15. "Paramount+ adds Concacaf soccer rights ahead of US launch - SportsPro Media". 25 February 2021.
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  18. "Pulisic, Turner and Lake take home CNL honors". Concacaf. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. "Reyna, Turner, Glasgow earn Concacaf Nations League honors". Concacaf. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.