OFFICIAL BULLETIN

OF THE

CONFEDERATION

THE F OOTBALL CONFEDERATION

OF

N ORTH , C E N T R A L AMERICA & CARIBBEAN A S S O C I A T I O N F O O T B A L L

M AY JU N E 1 9 9 9 V O L U M E 9 / NU M B E R 2

Costa Rica Wins Its

Third UNCAF Nations'
Cup Title
Costa Rica will lead the Central
American nations into CONCACAF's
Gold Cup of the new millenium after
winning the UNCAF Nations' Cup in
San Jose, Costa Rica. The Ticos,
needing a win by two clear goals in the
final game against El Salvador, did
twice as much as was needed. By half
time, Costa Rica was winning 3-0 and a
fourth goal by Paulo Wanchope, of
England's Derby County, sealed the fate
of all four final round participants. It
was Costa Rica's third UNCAF Nations'
Cup Championship.
With Guatemala's 2-0 win over
Honduras in the first match of March
28, the "Ticos" needed to beat El
Salvador by at least two goals to win
the championship on goal difference.
Costa Rica rolled to a 4-0 win to lock
up the title.
Costa Rica, along with second-place
finisher Guatemala and third-place finisher Honduras, qualifies for the 2000
CONCACAF Gold Cup, Feb. 12-27 in
Los Angeles, San Diego and Miami.
Guatemala and Honduras finished with
the same number of points as Costa
Rica but with inferior goal differences.
El Salvador, finishing fourth, will
play against Canada and two Caribbean
teams for the last two berths to Gold
Cup 2000.
Costa Rica's Rolando Fonseca was
the top goalscorer with 5 goals and was
also awarded the MVP Trophy.
Honduras won the Fair Play Trophy and
Guatemala's Edgar Estrada won the Top
Goalkeeper Trophy.
See page 6 for results and standings.
(Costa Ricas Eric Lonnis holds the cup)

CONCACAF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jack Austin Warner
President
Lisle Austin - Barbados
Vice-President, Caribbean Zone
Rafael Salguero - Guatemala
Vice-President, Central Zone
Alan Rothenberg - U.S.A.
Vice-President, North Zone
Anthony James - Jamaica
Member, Caribbean Zone
Sergio Torres - El Salvador
Member, Central Zone
Hugo Kiese - Mexico
Member, North Zone
Chuck Blazer
General Secretary

CONCACAF REPRESENTATIVES TO FIFA

Jack Austin Warner

FIFA Vice-President

Issac Sasso

Executive Committee Member

Chuck Blazer

Executive Committee Member

Office of the President

Jack Austin Warner
Edward and Oxford Street, Port of Spain,
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Phone: 1-868-625-9611 Fax: 1-868-625-9609
concacaf@cariblink.net

Office of the Deputy General Secretary

CONCACAF/UNCAF Headquarters
Oscar Thamar Torres
15 Avenida A 20-07, Zona 13, PO Box 916
Guatemala City, Guatemala C.A.
Phone: 1-502-361-6996 Fax: 1-502-361-5577
concacaf@quetzal.net

President Jack Warners Message

CONCACAF's competitions continue to
assume ever greater importance and none
more than the 1999 Champions' Cup. Thanks
to FIFA's enlightened decision to inaugurate
the first World Club Championship, our 1999
winner will now compete against the best
from every Confederation next January.
Our national teams, at every level, have been
intruding more and more into the world scene.
Now it is time, and a wonderful opportunity,
for our clubs to do the same.
After the tremendous success of our current
champion, DC United of the United States, in
winning the InterAmerican Cup by beating
the South American champion, Vasco Da
Gama of Brazil, over two legs last December,
we can look forward with great anticipation to January 2000 - no matter which club wins
the CONCACAF Champions' Cup this summer, with it, the right to represent us all.
It is truly time, after 111 years of professional club football, for a world club champion to be crowned.
By the time that happens, we will be on the brink of our other major competition, the
CONCACAF Gold Cup of 2000, to be played in February in Miami, San Diego, and LA.
I offer my congratulation to our nations who have qualified thus far: Mexico, as
champions, the United States, Jamaica and the three qualifiers from UNCAF, Costa Rica,
Guatemala and Honduras. Still to come is the winner of the 1999 Copa Caribe, played
from June 3 to 13, and then the top two from the playoffs between Canada, El Salvador
and two from the Caribbean.
But the Champions' Cup and the Gold Cup are only part of the CONCACAF action in
this hectic year.
On our own turf we shall shortly have the FIFA Women's World Cup, and then the
FIFA Confederations' Cup. Our teams fought bravely in the 1999 FIFA World Youth
Championship where Mexico lost narrowly in the quarterfinals to finalist, Japan, and the
USA was eliminated by eventual winner, Spain. We will soon know, after the playoffs
between them, whether El Salvador or the USA will join Mexico and Jamaica, in qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year.
Add to that the early and continuing qualifying rounds for the Olympic Games of
Sydney 2000, and it is easy to claim that CONCACAF has become as active and
competitive as any developing Confederation has a right to be.

Office of the Deputy General Secretary

CONCACAF/CFU Headquarters
Harold Taylor
131 Eastern Main Rd, Arouca, Trinidad W.I.
Phone: 1-809-646-5753 Fax: 1-809-646-4076
cfu@wow.net

CONCACAF NEWS
Published at CONCACAF Headquarters
Office of the General Secretary
725 Fifth Avenue, Trump Tower, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 1-212-308-0044 Fax: 1-212-308-1851
concacafny@aol.com
Editor
Art Director
Production

Carlos Giron
Michael Maselli
Nino Bussani

Jack Warner with Sir Geoff Hurst of the England bid group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup

CONCACAF Executive Committee

Focuses On Two World Cups
The CONCACAF Executive
Committee, meeting in New York, spent
time on two World Cup competitions, during two days of meetings at the
Confederation offices on May 2-3.
First, the committee listened to a presentation from the England bid group for
the 2006 World Cup; then prepared its recommendation to FIFA for the format for
the CONCACAF qualifying rounds for the
2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea.
Alec McGiven, head of England's bid,
and Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored three of
England's goals in the 1966 World Cup
victory over West Germany, spent 30 minutes explaining the strength of England's
bid, after which CONCACAF President
May 1999 Executive Committee Meeting
Jack Warner said: "It was a first class presentation in every respect. We listened carefully and we will listen with equal care to a
presentation from any of the other bidding nations; then make an objective decision."
For the World Cup of 2002, the Executive Committee asked General Secretary Chuck
Blazer to research and make a recommendation on how the preliminary rounds should be
played but confirmed the format for the semi final and final rounds which will be recommended to FIFA.
The semi final round will consist of 12 nations, divided into three groups of 4, playing a round robin within each group. The top two in each group will qualify for the Final
Round of six teams, who will also play a round robin, with the top three qualifying for
the World Cup Finals.
Before leaving the subject of world championships, the Executive Committee pledged
its fullest support to Guatemala in that country's bid to become host of the 2000 FIFA
Futsal (Indoor) Championship. On Saturday, May 8, CONCACAF Vice President, Rafael
Salguero and UNCAF General Secretary, Oscar Thamar, will attend a meeting of the
Guatemalan FIFA Futsal Championship 2000 Organizing Committee with the President
of the Republic to further discuss the bid.
The next CONCACAF Executive Committee meeting will be in New York on
November 15. The CONCACAF Congress of 2000 will be held at the Atlantis Hotel,
Nassau, The Bahamas on May 13 next year.
The committee spent several hours in a computer workshop to learn how to communicate through E Mail via the internet. The internet will be a necessary tool during the
future course of the comittees work and travels on CONCACAF business. "I feel sure,"
said General Secretary
Chuck Blazer, "that we are
the only Confederation of
FIFA where all members
of the Executive
Committee and all staff
members, in our offices in
New York, Port of Spain
and Guatemala City, can
now be in immediate contact with each via the
Internet. "Not only will
this make us more efficient but enable our
increasing workload to be
accomplished quicker and
more economically.
ExCo members being instructed in the CONCACAF New York office.

CONCACAF Makes a
Strong Showing At
The 1999 FIFA World
Youth Championship
Highlighted by impressive wins over
top European and South American competition, Mexico, the United States and
Costa Rica made a strong showing at
the 1999 FIFA World Youth
Championship, April 3-24.
Mexico (3-1-1) advanced to the
quarterfinals winning its group powered
by wins over current European champions, Ireland, and Australia. The
Mexicans scored an impressive 4-1 victory over South American powerhouse,
Argentina, in the Round of 16, before
falling to Japan, 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

The United States (2-0-2) defeated

England and Cameroon in first round
play, losing by one goal to the best
European team in the competition,
Spain, in their Round of 16 match.
USA's Taylor Twellman finished among
a select group of strikers scoring four
goals.
Costa Rica (1-1-2) opened with a tie
against host Nigeria. The Central
Americans went on to defeat Germany
earning the right to play Ghana in the
second round. Ghana won, 2-0.
Only Honduras (0-0-3) had a disappointing performance, losing all three of
its matches.
The Round of 16 results for the
CONCACAF teams were:
14.04.99 at Kaduna:
Ghana vs. COSTA RICA
15.04.99 at Port Harcourt:
Spain vs. USA
15.04.99 at Ibadan:
MEXICO vs. Argentina
Quaterfinal Results:
18.04.99 at Ibadan:
Japan vs. MEXICO

2:0 (1:0)
3:2 (3:0)
4:1 (0:1)

2:0 (2:0)

USA Beats Former

World Cup Champion

Mexico and Jamaica Qualify to the 1999 FIFA U-17

World Championship

The United States notched its sixth

victory against a former World Cup
champion, beating Germany, 3-0, May
6, at Jacksonville, Florida. This was the
USA's first victory in four tries against
the three-time World Champions.
The victory continued a series of
upsets against former World Cup
champions by the United States, which
include wins over England (1950 and
1993), Uruguay (1991), Argentina
(1995), and Brazil (1998). The
Americans scored their impressive win
over four-time World Champions,
Brazil, in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold
Cup.

Jamaica's U-17 team followed in the footsteps of their seniors by qualifying for the
finals of the FIFA U-17 World Championship. The young Jamaicans made soccer history
becoming the first U-17 national team from the island and the second team from the
Caribbean to qualify to this FIFA competition, which was inaugurated in 1985.
They did so by finishing first in Group A of the 1999 CONCACAF Juniors Tournament
to earn an automatic berth in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship to be held in
New Zealand, November 10-27.
"We are elated," Jamaica Football Federation General Secretary, Horace Reid, said.
"The victory suggests that our youth development program is in the right track. It is clear
that the success of the (senior) national team has served as an inspiration to our younger
players." The Jamaican senior national team, also known as "The Reggae Boyz," made
its first appearance in the finals of the FIFA World Cup last year in France.
The United States, the Group A runner up, earned the chance to garner the third and final
CONCACAF berth in a home and away series against El Salvador, the Group B runner
up, set for May 9 in El Salvador, and May 22 in the USA.
Mexico played a superb tactical game before a capacity crowd of 42,000 at San
Salvador's Estadio Cuscatlan, February 14, to defeat the hosts, 3-0, earning first place in
Group B of the CONCACAF Juniors (U-17) Tournament. Consequently, Mexico earned
one of the three berths assigned to CONCACAF to the finals of the 1999 FIFA U-17
World Championship in New Zealand, 10-27 November.
In the final and deciding match of Group B competition, Ricardo Sanchez gave
Mexico a 1-0 first half lead with his 15th minute penalty goal. El Salvador engaged
Mexico in an all-out attack without success. Mexico scored twice late in the game on
counter attacks. The goals were tallied by Juan Estrada (87) and Isaac Moreno (89, pen.)

Held to scoreless draws against

Australia and Bolivia since Bruce Arena
was appointed head coach, the USA
applied pressure on the three-time World
Cup champions from the kickoff, scoring all its goals in the first 26 minutes.
The United States hadn't scored a
goal in 288 minutes of action before
Jovan Kirovski started the American
goal spree in the 16th minute. Jeff
Agoos started the play with a pass out
of the midfield to a streaking Kirovski
on the left side. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder collected the pass and
unleashed a ferocious 23-yard rightfooter that slammed into the upper-right
corner.
Tony Sanneh and Claudio Reyna
rounded up the scoring for the USA. All
three scorers play in Germany.
The USA lost to Germany, 2-0, in
group play in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
last summer in France. The USA meets
Germany again, July 30 in Guadalajara,
Mexico, in the FIFA Confederations' Cup.

1999 CONCACAF Junior Tournament Final Standings and Results

Group A, Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, February 24-28
Group A
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
Jamaica
3
2
0
1
3
0
USA
3
1
0
2
5
2
Costa Rica
3
1
1
1
5
5
Honduras
3
0
3
0
1
7
24.02.99
24.02.99
26.02.99
26.02.99
28.02.99
28.02.99

Costa Rica vs. USA

Jamaica vs. Honduras
Honduras vs. USA
Jamaica vs. Costa Rica
Honduras vs. Costa Rica
Jamaica vs. USA

Group B, Cuscatlan Stadium, San

Group B
GP
Mexico
3
El Salvador
3
Canada
3
Trinidad y Tobago
3
10.02.99
10.02.99
12.02.99
12.02.99
14.02.99
14.02.99

Salvador,
W
3
2
1
0

2-2 (2-1)
1-0 (1-0)
0-3 (0-2)
2-0 (0-0)
1:3 (0-2)
0:0 (0-0)

PTS
7
5
4
0

Jose Farias (CAN)

Ulises Ranger (MEX)
Noel Bynoe (TTO)
Nery Alfaro (SLV)
Jose Farias (CAN)
Ulises Rangel (MEX)

El Salvador, February 10-14

L
T
GF
GA
0
0
13
2
1
0
8
4
2
0
6
6
3
0
3
18

Mexico vs. Canada

4:0 (1:0)
El Salvador vs. T&T
6:1 (1:0)
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico 2:6 (1:2)
El Salvador vs. Canada
2:0 (0:0)
Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago 6:0 (1:0)
El Salvador vs. Mexico
0:3 (0:1)

PTS
9
6
3
0

Kevin Stott (USA)

Hugo Castillo (GUA)
Oscar Bardales (HND)
Stuart Crockwell (BER)
Hugo Castillo (GUA)
Kevin Stott (USA)

Mexico and Jamaica qualified for the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship. El
Salvador and the USA will play a home and away series, May 9 (SLV) and May 22
(USA), for the third and final CONCACAF berth.

Mexico continues remarkable year,

Wins the 1999 US Cup
Mexico continued to make 1999 a year to celebrate by beating the United States, 2-1,
in the final of the U.S. Cup, in front of over 50,000 fans in San Diego, California in
March.
Already in 1999 Mexico has set a FIFA record by being the first country to qualify
for four FIFA finals in the same year:
FIFA Confederations Cup, to be played in Mexico from July 24 to August 4
FIFA Women's World Cup, to be played in the USA from June 19 to July 10
FIFA Youth (Under 20) World Cup, to be played in Nigeria from April 3 to April 24
FIFA Junior (Under 17) World Cup, to be played, New Zealand from November 10 to 27
Mexico's victory against the US in the final of the U.S. Cup, was an extremely close
and hard-fought affair and signaled the first defeat in six games for new US national
coach Bruce Arena and his team of increasingly new, young players.
An own goal (Robin Fraser) gave the lead to Mexico in the 14th minute. Frankie
Hejduk struck a 15-yard shot past Mexico's keeper Oscar Perez in the 51st minute, and
Jose Manuel Abundis tapped in a loose ball off the USA keeper's hands in front of the
goalpost at the 57 minute, to seal the victory for the reigning 1998 CONCACAF Gold
Cup Champions.

Hugo Sanchez
Selected The
"CONCACAF Player Of
The Century"
Legendary Mexican striker Hugo
Sanchez of Mexico has been selected the
"CONCACAF Player of the Century," by
the International Federation of Football
Statistics and History, a soccer history
organization based in Germany.
Sanchez scored 394 goals in 662
appearances in the First Division leagues
of Spain, Austria, Mexico and the United
States and represented his country in
numerous international competitions. He
currently serves in the newly created
FIFA Football Committee.
Carlos Hermosillo of Mexico, was
named CONCACAF's "Top Goalscorer
of the Century", while Antonio Carbajal,
also Mexican, was voted the "CONCACAF Goalkeeper of the Century."

1999 CONCACAF
Champions' Cup

NIKE U.S. CUP '99 - Final Standings and Results

GROUP B

GF

GA

DIF

PTS

Mexico
USA
Guatemala
Bolivia
Results:
11.03.99

2
1
1
0

0
1
1
2

0
0
0
0

4
4
3
2

2
3
4
4

+2
+1
-1
-2

6
3
3
0

USA 3, Guatemala 1
Mexico 2, Bolivia 1

13.03.99

USA 1, Mexico 2
Bolivia 1, Guatemala 2

Additionally, as if all this was not enough, the Mexican National Team won the
Carlsberg Cup, a tournament held in Hong Kong that included the participation of
Bulgaria, Egypt and the host country.
The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup reigning champions scored an impressive win in the
final over the 1998 African Cup winners, Egypt, 3-0, in front of a sell-out crowd of
36,000, February 19. Rafael Mrquez (34m), Jos Manuel Abundis (43m), and Luis
Hernndez (87m, penalty kick), tallied the goals for the Mexican team.
Mexico will meet Egypt, again, July 27, in first round play in the 1999 FIFA
Confederations' Cup in Mexico City.
The three-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champions reached the final beating a Hong
Kong combine, 4-3 via penalty kicks, following a scoreless match in regulation. Bulgaria
won third place beating Hong Kong, 3-0.

The 1999
CONCACAF
Champions' Cup
assumes even
greater importance
now that the winner will represent
the Confederation in the first FIFA
World Clubs Championship next
January, in a site to be determined.
At the time of writing, decisions
were also being made as to the venue for
the finals of the CONCACAF
Champions Cup; taking into account
scheduling, television requirements and
the status of qualifying stages, among
other things.
Thus far, DC United (USA), reigning
champions and winners of the 1998
InterAmerican Cup, Joe Public
(Trinidad) and Chicago Fire (USA) have
taken three of the eight places in the
finals.
The Mexican summer championship
winner will qualify automatically for a
place, as will the three top clubs from
the Central American qualifying stages.
The final place will go to the winner
of the play off between Los Angeles
Galaxy (USA) and Necaxa (Mexico).

1999 Copa Caribe

Haiti, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts-Nevis,
Grenada and Cuba are the five teams
that survived the preliminary competition and have reached the final round of
the 1999 Copa Caribe tournament to be
held in Trinidad & Tobago, June 3-14.
The five qualifiers will be joined by
defending champion, Jamaica, the U-20
Brazilian national team, and the host
team.
The tournament winner will automatically advance to the 2000 CONCACAF
Gold Cup finals, February 12-27.
Trinidad, as runners up in 1998, has
already qualified for a place in the playoff pool to decide the final two qualifiers
for the Gold Cup, but can qualify directly to the finals as winners this year.
Other possibilities follow:
If Jamaica wins again and a team
other than Trinidad is runner up, then
Jamaica would be joined in the Gold
Cup finals by the runner up with the best
record; the second best runner up going
into the playoff pool along with the third
placed team with the best record.
If Trinidad is the winner and Jamaica
the runner up, then the two best third
placed teams would enter the Gold Cup
and the runners up, or third-placed
team(s) with the best record, depending
on who finishes second this year, would
go to the playoffs.
Group A: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago,
Guadeloupe, and Grenada
Group B: Brazil (U-20), Haiti, St.
Kitts/Nevis, and Cuba

Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras Advance

to 2000 Gold Cup
1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup Final Second Round Standings
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
Costa Rica
3
2
1
0
6
2
Guatemala
3
2
1
0
3
1
Honduras
3
2
0
0
5
4
El Salvador
3
0
3
0
1
7

1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup Second Round Results

24.03.99
El Salvador vs. Honduras
1-3
Noel Bynoe (T&T)
24.03.99
Costa Rica vs. Guatemala
1-0
Leon Padro (MEX)
26.03.99
Guatemala vs. El Salvador
1-0
Noel Bynoe (T&T)
26.03.99
Honduras vs. Costa Rica
2-1
Leon Padro (MEX)
28.03.99
Honduras vs. Guatemala
0-2
Rafael Rodriguez (SLV)
28.03.99
El Salvador vs. Costa Rica
0-4
Oscar Bardales (HND)
1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup First Round Standings
Group 1
GP
W
L
T
GF
Honduras
2
2
0
0
6
Costa Rica
2
1
1
0
7
Belize
2
0
2
0
1

GA
1
1
12

PTS
6
3
0

Group 2
Guatemala
El Salvador
Nicaragua

GA
1
1
2

PTS
4
4
0

GP
2
2
2

W
1
1
0

L
0
0
2

T
1
1
0

GF
2
2
0

(GP: Games played; W: Wins, L: Loss, T: Ties, GF: Goals in Favor, GA: Goals Against, PTS: Points)

1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup First Round Results

17.03.99
Guatemala vs. Nicaragua
1-0
17.03.99
Costa Rica vs. Belize
7-0
19.03.99
Honduras vs. Belize
5-1
19.03.99
Guatemala vs. El Salvador
1-1
21.03.99
El Salvador vs. Nicaragua
1-0
21.03.99
Costa Rica vs. Honduras
0-1

03.06.99 Guadeloupe vs. Grenada

03.06.99 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Jamaica
04.06.99 Haiti vs. Cuba
04.06.99 Brazil vs. St. Kitts/Nevis
05.06.99 Jamaica vs. Guadeloupe
05.06.99 Grenada vs. Trinidad & Tobago
06.06.99 St. Kitts/Nevis vs. Haiti
06.06.99 Cuba vs. Brazil
07.06.99 Jamaica vs. Grenada
07.06.99 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guadeloupe
08.06.99 Cuba vs. St. Kitts/Nevis
08.06.99 Haiti vs. Brazil

Semifinals 10.06.99
Winner Group B vs. Runner up Group A
Winner Group A vs. Runner up Group B

Third Place Match 12.06.99

Championship Match 13.06.99
Matches will be played at the Hasely
Crawford Stadium and the Dr. Joao
Havelange Centre of Excellence (JHCE).

PTS
6
6
6
0

Nicaragua vs. El Salvador

Ocar Bardales (HND)

Noel Bynoe (T&T)
Freddy Burgos (GUA)
Greivin Porras (CRC)
Leon Padro (MEX)
Rafael Rodriguez (SLV)

1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup All-Star Team

This is the 1999 UNCAF Nations' Cup All
Star Team, selected by the CONCACAF
Technical Commission. The players were
selected based on their performance in this
tournament, not on their background or past
performances. The players are (alphabetically):
Goalkeepers: Wilmer Cruz (Honduras);
Eric Lonnis (Costa Rica).
Defenders: Jervis Drummond (Costa Rica);
Julio Giron, (Guatemala); Jose Hernandez,
(El Salvador); Nimrod Medina, (Honduras);
Erick Miranda, (Guatemala); Milton Reyes,
(Honduras).
Midfielders: Jorge Caballero, (Honduras);
Jeustin Campos, (Costa Rica); Robel
Bernardez, (Honduras); Rolando Fonseca,
(Costa Rica); Guillermo Garcia,(El
Salvador); Christian Santamaria, (Honduras)
Forwards: Milton Nunez,(Honduras);
Carlos Pavon, (Honduras); Jose Ramirez,
(Honduras); Jorge Rodas, (Guatemala).

1999 FIFA Womens World Cup Final Draw:

Mexico To Face Brazil; USA Opens Against
Denmark; Canada Plays Champions Norway
The final draw of the 1999 FIFA Women's World
Cup, conducted at halftime of the first-ever Women's
World All-Star Match, (that saw the FIFA World Stars
defeat the USA, 2-1, in front of a crowd of 15,367 at
Spartan Stadium), resulted in the following groupings:
The USA will head Group A and will face Korea
DPR, Nigeria and Denmark. The Americans have never
faced Korea DPR or Nigeria, but have a 6-3-1 career
record against the Danes, including a 5-0 victory in the
semifinals of the 1998 Goodwill Games last summer.
Mexico is in Group B, called the "Group of Death,"
containing European champion Germany, 1996 Olympic
semifinalist Brazil, and European runner-up Italy. The
winners and runners-up in Groups A and B will "crossover" and meet in the quarterfinals.
Canada, in Group C, is paired with Defending
Women's World Cup champion Norway, three-time
Women's World Cup participant Japan, and Women's
World Cup newcomer Russia.
Group D will be headed by Olympic silver medalists
China, who face a tough challenge from Oceania champion Australia, first-timer Ghana and 1995 host Sweden. The winners and runners-up in
Groups C and D will "cross-over" and meet in the quarterfinals.
Group A: USA, Korea DPR, Nigeria, Denmark
Group B: Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Italy
Group C: Norway, Japan, Canada, Russia
Group D: China PR, Australia, Ghana, Sweden

The Womens tournament

will begin on Saturday, June 19
(15:00), when the United States
takes on Denmark, at the
Meadowlands Giants Stadium,
in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The tournament final will be
played Saturday, July 10
(14:00), at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, California.
For more up to date information and a history of the
competition, please visit the
recently launched, Official 1999
FIFA Women's World Cup web
site: www.WWC99.com.

USA defender, Brandi Chastain (#6),

in action during a match against
Sweden in 1998

CONCACAF
Refereeing News
CONCACAF's Codesal appointed head
of refereeing for the FIFA Women's
World Cup USA '99
CONCACAF's Director of Referees,
Edgardo Codesal, has been appointed
head of refereeing for the FIFA Women's
World Cup. Codesal of Mexico, has also
been appointed by FIFA as a member of
the refereeing committee for the FIFA
World U-20 Championship in Nigeria
next month, The Confederations Cup in
Mexico in July/August and the FIFA
World U-17 Championship in New
Zealand in November.
CONCACAF Game Officials Appointed
to FIFA Womens World Cup
Six CONCACAF referees have been
appointed to officiate at the 1999 FIFA
Women's World Cup in the United
States. Only UEFA, with eight appointments, has more.
Sonia Denoncourt of Canada, Maria
Alpizar Jimenez of Costa Rica, and
Sandra Hunt of the USA, are on the
Referees' List, while Maria Rodriguez of
Mexico, Jackeline Saez of Panama, and
Boni Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, are
on the List of Assistant Referees.
CONCACAF Referees and Assistant
Referees in Nigeria 1999
Two referees and three assistant referees from CONCACAF officiated in the
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Nigeria. They are:
Referees: Felipe Ramos, Mexico; and
William Mattus, Costa Rica.
Assistant Referees: Walter Rivera,
Honduras; Curtis Charles, Antigua and
Barbuda; and Haseeb Mohammed,
Trinidad & Tobago.
Canadian Doctor Honored
Dr. Rudy Gittens of Ottawa,
Chairman of the CONCACAF Medical
Committee, has been honored with the
1999 Canadian Sport Medicine and
Science Award, created to recognize
individual service in a critical segment
of support for athletes.
Dr. Gittens is currently a member of
the FIFA Sports Medicine Committee
and Chairman of the Canadian Soccer
Association's Sports Medicine
Committee. He has provided fifteen
years of exceptional service to Canada.