The Future of Soccer in America Will Be With the Union of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL
The 2024 Copa America has once again brought together all the national teams from the American continent for the second time. Have you ever imagined how magnificent this union could be with the clubs? In the past, we had Mexican teams participating in the Copa Libertadores; however, they stopped integrating in 2016.
A new era could begin in the Americas' soccer with the union between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, bringing significant changes to club competitions, creating new international rivalries and memorable matches, all within each nation's reality, promising to transform soccer in the Americas. We at MLS Multiplex decided to go further and envision how the ideal competition could look with all the teams from South, Central, and North America.
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Creation of the Interamerican Cup
The main innovation is the creation of the Interamerican Cup, which would replace the Recopa CONMEBOL. This tournament could be played at the beginning of the season and would bring together the four main champions of the Americas:
- CONCACAF Champions Cup winner
- Leagues Cup winner
- Copa Libertadores winner
- Copa Sudamericana winner
With this, the competition becomes a true clash of champions, promising high-level matches and great excitement for the fans. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would come to an agreement to choose the venue for the competition in a neutral location.
Unification of the Libertadores
The proposal to unify the Libertadores aims to create a truly continental competition, integrating the best teams from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. The tournament would feature 32 teams without a pre-qualification phase, with spots distributed as follows:
- Brazil: 4 spots (3 from Brasileirão and 1 from Copa do Brasil)
- Argentina: 4 spots
- United States: 3 spots (Supporters Shield, MLS Cup, and US Open Cup)
- Mexico: 3 spots
- Colombia: 3 spots
- Paraguay: 2 spots
- Uruguay: 2 spots
- Ecuador: 2 spots
- Chile: 1 spot
- Bolivia: 1 spot
- Peru: 1 spot
- Venezuela: 1 spot
- Canada: 1 spot (Canadian Championship)
- Caribbean: 1 spot (Caribbean Cup)
- Libertadores champion (previous edition): 1 spot
- Sudamericana champion (previous edition): 1 spot
- CONCACAF Champions Cup winner (previous edition): 1 spot
The group stage will be divided into two blocks, North and South, with 16 teams each. Each block will have 4 groups of 4 teams. In the knockout phase, the qualifiers will face each other in home and away matches, with the final played at a neutral venue.
Restructuring of the CONCACAF Champions Cup
The CONCACAF Champions Cup would be restructured to resemble the Copa Sudamericana, featuring champions from each country in Central America and the Caribbean, Leagues Cup finalists, and the Canadian Premier League champion. This restructuring aims to increase competitiveness and interest in the tournament in the region, functioning as a secondary club competition in the CONCACAF region.
Participants would include:
- Champions from each country in Central America and the Caribbean
- Leagues Cup finalists
- Canadian Premier League champion
Maintenance of the Sudamericana and Leagues Cup
The Copa Sudamericana and Leagues Cup would continue with their current formats without changes. The Sudamericana would maintain its importance as a secondary club competition in South America, while the Leagues Cup would continue to bring together teams from MLS and Liga MX.
Creation of the Caribbean Cup
Another proposal is the creation of the Caribbean Cup, a tournament that would bring together the top teams from Caribbean countries such as Aruba, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago, among others. The Caribbean Cup would give more visibility to Caribbean soccer and increase competitiveness in the region, providing a platform for Caribbean clubs to showcase their talent and potential.
Copa America and World Cup Qualifiers
The Copa America would follow the format of the 2016 and 2024 editions, ensuring the participation of national teams from both confederations. World Cup qualifiers would continue in their current format, without merging the confederations, preserving the existing qualification structure and maintaining the competitiveness of national teams.
The union between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would represent a true revolution in American soccer. With new competitions and the restructuring of existing tournaments, integration promises to increase competitiveness, provide great spectacles, and delight fans across the continent. The emergence and maintenance of these competitions could also enhance visibility and promote unprecedented cultural and sporting exchange in the continent, marking a new era of soccer in the Americas.
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