CONCACAF, CONMEBOL to collaborate on Copa, Gold Cup

Six CONCACAF teams will compete in next year's Copa America as part of a new s t r a t e g i c a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e c o n t i n e n t a l g o v e r n i n g b o d y a n d CONMEBOL.

CONCACAF announced the move on Friday, saying the collaboration will “strengthen and develop football in both regions”

CONMEBOL is the governing body for football in South America, and along with CONCACAF, makes up the six confederations of football's world governing body, FIFA

The Copa America, South America's confederation championship, will be played in the United States next summer and includes ten CONMEBOL nations and the six best from

CONCACAF, coming out of the Nations League tournament CONCACAF said this will ensure “highquality competition for its men's national teams over the next two years, including the conclusion of the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League, the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League ”

“This is a partnership to support the ongoing growth of men's and women's football in CONCACAF and CONMEBOL and will truly be of mutual benefit to both Confederations,” said CONCACAF president, Victor Montagliani

“Working hand in hand with CONMEBOL, we will deliver elite competitions that will provide more opportunities for our federations, and that we know passionate fans want to see “We look forward to working together to ensure that football in both regions continues to thrive ”

CONCACAF has also invited the top four South American women's national teams to do battle in next year's inaugural Women's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which sees 12 teams participating

The tour teams will be Women's Copa America champions Brazil, runner-ups Colombia, along with Argentina and Paraguay

Further, the two CONCACAF sides which will line up in the next year's Summer Olympics will also gain direct entry to the Women's Gold Cup, with the six remaining nations set to be determined through this year's qualifiers dubbed the 2023 Road to Concacaf Gold Cup CONMEBOL, meanwhile, said the collaboration will “support its men's national teams in their preparation for the upcoming World Cup”, being hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico

The two confederations also plan to organise a club competition between the top sides from the respective regions next year