- Shield becomes official CFU competition, qualifying two clubs to Concacaf Caribbean Cup
Miami, Florida - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) today announced a significant transition in the organization and management of the Caribbean Club Shield, with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) taking the reins of the respected Caribbean club competition from the 2024 edition onwards.
Under the terms of this important agreement, the CFU will assume responsibility for the organization and management of the competition, with Concacaf providing support for its delivery. The competition will be rebranded as the CFU Club Shield and will qualify two clubs into the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
This decision reflects a collaborative effort between Concacaf and the CFU to further bolster the growth of clubs and leagues, and football as a whole, across the Caribbean region.
“The development of regional club football is a major priority for Concacaf and alongside our Caribbean member associations, we are dedicated to fully supporting the growth of clubs and leagues across a region known for its passion for the sport,” said Concacaf President, Victor Montagliani. “This collaboration with the CFU is a testament to the leadership of the CFU President and highlights the ambition we share to deliver opportunities that will take the game in the Caribbean to the next level. We look forward with great anticipation to supporting the delivery of the inaugural CFU Club Shield later this year”, added Montagliani.
“The CFU is extremely pleased to be taking over the management and organization of the Club Shield, and to rebrand it as an official CFU competition. We welcome the cooperation from Concacaf in ushering in this new era of the CFU delivering an important club competition and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Confederation to grow club and league football in the region,” said CFU President, Randolph Harris. “We are excited to deliver a competition that is as robust as any on the field of play and to delivering administration that meets and exceeds the mark,” added Harris.
Established in 2018, the Caribbean Club Shield has a primary objective of advancing professional football throughout the Caribbean. Participation is open to semi-professional and amateur teams holding current championship titles in their respective domestic leagues.
The tournament format involves up to 16 clubs, grouped into four sets of four. Winners of each group progress to the semifinals, with the ultimate finalists earning coveted berths in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, subsequently qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
In 2023, Suriname’s SV Robinhood emerged victorious in both the Caribbean Club Shield and the Caribbean Cup. The team has solidified their position as the most successful team in the history of the Caribbean Club Shield, boasting two championship titles.
Set to unfold from July 25 to August 4, 2024, the venue for this year's competition will be announced in due time.
