In 2011, CONCACAF celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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As part of a year-long commemoration, a weekly feature titled "This Week in CONCACAF History" will take a brief look back at some of the confederation's most historic games and happenings.

Through "This Week in CONCACAF History" you can revisit the region's most memorable people, events and crowning achievements.  

Week of January 10-15
January 10, 1954: After 15 games and three FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles, USA's William Sheppell had the misfortunate to becoming the first player from the region to score an own goal (16th minute) in the 4:0 loss to the host Mexico at the Estadio Olímpico in Mexico City.

January 11, 1996: Mexico began its defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup crown won three years earlier with a 5-0 triumph over St. Vincent & The Grenadines in the first Group A encounter of the 1996 tournament at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California USA … Luis Garcia and Ricardo Peláez had two goals each, while Agustin Garcia added another for the Tricolor.

January 12, 1989: USA became the first CONCACAF team to defeat Brazil at the FIFA Futsal World Cup after a 5-3 triumph in a second round match at the Sportpaleis Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands … Jim Gabarra, Brent Goulet, Eric Eichmann, Doc Lawson and Tab Ramos all scored for the Stars & Stripes as they progressed to the 1989 FIFA Tournament (Netherlands 1989) semifinals, where they dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to the host two days later at the same venue … USA rebounded 24 hours later with two goals by Peter Vermes and another from Mike Windischmann to defeat Belgium, 3-2, after extra time to claim the bronze medal at the Sportpaleis Arena.

January 13, 1959: Mexico won the men's football tournament gold medal for the third time at the Central American & Caribbean Games after posting a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico in 1959 event held at the Estadio Nacional in Caracas, Venezuela … Fernando Noriega (23rd) and Jorge Diez (87th) scored in each half for the Tricolor who finished atop of the final group standings with an unblemished 4-0-0 record (8 points) that also included Netherlands Antilles, Panama along with the host.

January 14, 1961: Marvin Rodriguez scored the game-winner in the 32nd minute as Costa Rica defeated Honduras, 1-0, in a single-game playoff at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala during the last North American Region Qualification for FIFA World Cup Chile 1962 prior to the formation of CONCACAF … Both teams finished leveled for first-place (seven points each) in three-team Group 2 qualification that also included Guatemala.

January 15, 1978: Luis Alberto Da Costa scored early in the second half to lead Mexico's Club América to a 1-0 win over host SV Robinhood of Surinam in the first-leg of the 1977 CONCACAF Champions' Cup Final in Paramaribo … Club América went on the win the delayed CONCACAF title three days later after holding SV Robinhood to a 1-1 tie in the second-leg in the same venue.

For more information or general inquiries concerning historical content, please contact Steven Torres, CONCACAF Manger of Information Services at steve.torres@concacaf.org.