The governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) confirmed a radical overhaul of international soccer in the region yesterday, announcing plans for a competitive “League of Nations” tournament aimed at replacing friendlies.
The new competition would see 41 CONCACAF members split into three divisions, playing each other on a home-and-away basis, with promotion and relegation between the three leagues.
The CONCACAF League of Nations mirrors a similar shake up in Europe, where UEFA is launching its own Nations League from September 2018.
A statement from CONCACAF said the League of Nations would kick off next September.
Details of the schedule and structure of the divisions would be unveiled in early 2018.
CONCACAF said the competition would also help determine which teams play in the region’s continental championship, the Gold Cup, held every two years.
