History

History

Concacaf was established in 1961 from a vision of unity, officially formed through the merger of the North American Football Union (NAFU) and the Football Confederation of Central America and the Caribbean (CCCF). Today, the Confederation is composed of 41 Member Associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in the south.

The landscape of Concacaf competitions has expanded dramatically over the years. The Concacaf Gold Cup, which serves as the premier tournament for men’s national teams, was established in 1991 and has since become a celebrated spectacle of football. In 2019, the Concacaf Nations League was launched to provide regular, merit-based international play for all 41 Member Associations.

A new era for men’s club football began in 2024 with the launch of the revamped Concacaf Champions Cup—an expanded, all-knockout tournament. Teams now qualify through regional cup competitions, such as the Concacaf Central American Cup, Concacaf Caribbean Cup, and Leagues Cup, and domestic leagues and cups. The competition originated as the Concacaf Champions’ Cup (1962–2008) before being rebranded as the Concacaf Champions League, which ran from 2008 to 2023.

The growth of the women’s game in the region was proudly displayed with the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup in 2024. Furthermore, the 2024/25 season marks the launch of the Concacaf W Champions Cup, the region’s first official continental club competition for women.

Concacaf’s commitment to youth development took root in the 1960s with the launch of the U-20 Championship, followed by the U-17 Championship in the 1980s and the U-15 Championship in 2013. These tournaments became key platforms for identifying emerging talent, many of whom went on to feature in FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games.

This long-standing tradition of youth competitions was further strengthened in 2024 with the launch of Kick-Off, Concacaf’s dedicated youth brand.