US invites South America teams to new 2020 event
NEW YORK: The United States Soccer Federation wants to launch a new international tournament next year featuring 10 sides from South America and the strongest teams from the CONCACAF region.
The New York Times said in a report later confirmed by CONCACAF on Tuesday that USSF president Carlos Cordeiro had sent a letter to the 10 federations that make up CONMEBOL offering to stage the new tournament.
The event, which strongly resembles the successful 2016 Copa America Centenario held throughout the United States, would be held at the same time as the 2020 European Championship.
The proposed event would guarantee nearly $200 million to be shared amongst the invited teams and their ruling bodies, according to the Times.
It follows discussions held over the past year between officials from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF about a possible new tournament.
The winners of the tournament would earn more than $11 million.
CONCACAF, the governing body responsible for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, welcomed the US proposal, saying the event would complement its own regional championship, the Gold Cup.
“We view this opportunity positively as it is not intended to replace or substitute any future editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and it complements our vision to continue providing opportunities for our Member Associations to play competitive football at the highest level,” the body said in a statement. - AFP