Saturday 12 February 2011

Spotlight on North America


There are 35 FIFA members (and 5 non-FIFA members) in CONCACAF. These are split into 3 seperate unions.

North American Football Union (3/3)
Mexico and the USA are the dominant forces in CONCACAF having both qualified for the past five FIFA World Cups. NAFU has been represented in all but three FIFA World Cups. In 1938 Cuba took their place, Haiti in 1974, and both Honduras and El Salvador in 1982.



Central American Football Union (6/7)
UNCAF is the second most successful union in CONCACAF. They've be represented seven times in the FIFA World Cup although Costa Rica's second round appearance at Italia 90 is the only time a team from UNCAF have made it past the group stages.

Belize (formerly British Honduras) is the only country from UNCAF that i have been unable to obtain. I have seen a Lotto Belize shirt appear on eBay, but I was out bid. It's frustrating because Belize is an English speaking country, yet I've had no replies from the Belize FA.




Caribbean Football Union (13/25)
Historically the CFU is the weakest of the three North American football unions, although they have been represented in the FIFA World Cup finals by Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974), Jamaica (1998) and Trinidad & Tobago (2006). The CFU is made up of some of the smallest nations in FIFA and 14 of the 25 members are in the lowest quarter of the FIFA world rankings. Anguilla and Montserrat share bottom place with three other countries on 0 points.



How can you help?

I just need 13 more shirts from CONCACAF. Fortunately the caribbean is a popular tourist destination, and there are many people in the UK with caribbean heritage so I am hopeful that I should be able to get most of these shirts. My main concern is that some of these countries rarely play internation matches, sometimes they are limited to a two-legged World Cup qualifier every 4 years. If you live in, or have a contact who could help in any of the following countries, then please do get in touch:
  • Anguilla
  • Aruba
  • Belize
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Montserrat
  • Puerto Rico
  • St.Vincent and the Grenadines
  • US Virgin Islands

5 comments:

  1. Nick, I am a collector too (I have shirts of 80 different countries around the world) and I have two questions for you:
    1) Do you wear your treasures?
    2) What will you do whe you have the shirt of every country (I beg you will)?
    I am a fan of your work. Regards.

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  2. hello nick i like you collection your doing well i seen a cuba shirt on subside sports for £30 i hope this helps it the away but they will be getting the home

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  3. They sell the official Guyana jersey on the team's website

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  4. Im starting to get pissed off that i cannot find a Montserrat shirt, its virtually impossible.

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  5. I'm not sure that they are the official ones on the Guyana website. They do sell shirts, but I don't think they are the same make as the player ones.

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