Concacaf

CONCACAF is the governing body for soccer (football) in the region, and one of six continental authorities that administer the game along with FIFA, the world governing body.

Formed in 1961 from the merger of the Football Confederation of Central America and the Caribbean (CCCF ) and the North American Football Confederation NAFC), CONCACAF has 41 member associations, including Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana on the South American continent.

Of the 41 members, five are associate members: Dutch territory Sint Maarten as well French Guyana and its fellow French overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint-Martin. Their status permits them to play in CONCACAF events but not those of FIFA.

As the administrative body for the region, CONCACAF organizes competitions, offers training courses in technical and administrative aspects of the game, and helps to build football throughout the region.

CONCACAF organizes tournaments on a four-year cycle for clubs and national teams throughout the region. This includes qualifying tournaments (also the regional championships) for the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA tournaments at under-17, under-20 and under-23 youth levels as well as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Two additional regional entities support CONCACAF specifically the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) and UNCAF (Union Centromericana de Fútbol "Central America") organize regional and qualification events for