NEW YORK -- Honduras will get a third team in next season's CONCACAF Champions League due to Belize not meeting the standards for an adequate stadium, the confederation's Executive Committee decided Monday.
Tournament regulations require teams play their home games within their own country in facilities that meet minimum requirements with regard to the field, lighting, changing rooms and fan amenities. CONCACAF allowed for a one-year grace period for teams to meet the standards but after that, teams were to be replaced from other countries based on the performance of their clubs in the previous Champions League.
Marathon already has assured itself of a berth in the 24-team field as winner of the Honduran Apertura championship, while the Clausura winner will claim the second berth. The team with the next most total points from both seasons will earn the third place.
The inaugural Champions League winner will be crowned Tuesday when Atlante hosts Cruz Azul in the second leg of the final in Cancun, Mexico.
In its regular semiannual meeting chaired by President Jack Warner, the board also approved the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) to host next year's CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship in Guatemala in January and selected Costa Rica as the site of next year's U-17 Women's Championship in March.
"Tomorrow's Champions League finale begins an exciting summer in CONCACAF that also will include an unprecedented 13-city Gold Cup," Warner said. "We are also very proud to be hosting the CONCACAF and FIFA congresses next month in the Bahamas."
In light of Mexico's withdrawal from the Copa Libertadores, the Executive Committee directed General Secretary Chuck Blazer to assess the current situation with CONMEBOL competitions to determine whether continued participation by CONCACAF was desirable. He is to evaluate and take the necessary steps to either end the relationship or correct it.
Additionally, the board heard reports regarding the progress of planning for the CONCACAF Gold Cup July 3-26 in 13 venues across the United States and approved two teams for participation in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games next year in Singapore: Cuba in the men's tournament, and Trinidad & Tobago for the women's competition.
FIFA designated the participants for the inaugural six-team, under-15 events to be by invitation.





