CONCACAF teams for Pan Am Games

During a meeting of the Executive Committee, CONCACAF decided that a quartet of CONCACAF teams will contest the Men’s Under-22 competition, Women’s football and Futsal.

“Four South American teams will join each competition that will therefore consist of a total of eight teams,” CONCACAF announced.

The 2007 Pan American Games will run from July 13-29.

“The Men’s U-22 competition will have Canada and Mexico as the North Zone Representatives along with the best team from each of the respective CAC (Central American and Caribbean) Games qualification groups in the Caribbean and Central American Zones,” CONCACAF stated.

CONCACAF also said the women’s football event, which will be an open age category, will consist of the following best teams coming from the 2006 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, North Zone - 2; Caribbean - 1; Central America - 1.

Futsal will played at the Pan Am Games for the first time in the history of the event and CONCACAF’s four berths have been determined as defending CONCACAF champions, USA, Cuba as the best Caribbean representatives, and two teams coming from North and Central American Qualification.

Futsal is a sport that is a derivative of football and played with five-man teams on a basketball style court, with no walls and a low bouncing ball.

Great football superstars such as Pele, Zico and Ronaldo grew up playing the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills. (CMC)