CONFEDERATION OF NORTH CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL (CONCACAF)

PROGRAM SERVICES THE CONFEDERATION OF NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL ("CONCACAF") IS THE GOVERNING BODY FOR SOCCER ("FOOTBALL") IN THE REGION, AND ONE OF SIX CONTINENTAL AUTHORITIES THAT ADMINISTERS THE GAME ALONG WITH THE FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ("FIFA"), THE WORLD GOVERNING BODY. CONCACAF HAS 41 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING GUYANA, SURINAME AND FRENCH GUYANA ON THE SOUTH AMERICAN CONTINENT. ITS PRIMARY ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS ARE TO ORGANIZE COMPETITIONS FOR NATIONAL TEAMS AND CLUBS, AND TO CONDUCT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS. AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE BODY FOR THE REGION, CONCACAF ORGANIZES COMPETITIONS, OFFERS TRAINING COURSES IN TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF THE GAME, AND HELPS TO BUILD FOOTBALL THROUGHOUT THE REGION. CONCACAF OWNS THE BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THE VARIOUS EVENTS AND EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH AGENTS, FINDS BROADCAST PARTNERS AND SPONSORS FOR THE EVENTS, THUS BUILDING THE AUDIENCE FOR SOCCER IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS EXEMPT PURPOSES. CONCACAF CARRIES OUT ITS MISSION BY EFFECTUATING OR FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL COMPETITIONS, CONDUCTING MEETINGS AND CONGRESSES, PROVIDING COURSES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PROMOTING FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, AND GENERALLY INSURING THAT THERE IS NO POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION WITHIN OR AMONG THE ASSOCIATIONS. THREE REGIONAL "UNIONS" SUPPORT CONCACAF IN THESE EFFORTS: THE CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION ("CFU") (WHICH INCLUDES GUYANA, SURINAME, AND FRENCH GUYANA), THE UNIN CENTROAMERICANA DE FTBOL ("UNCAF"), AND THE NORTH AMERICAN FOOTBALL UNION ("NAFU"). THESE THREE ENTITIES ORGANIZE REGIONAL AND QUALIFICATION EVENTS TO VARIOUS CONCACAF COMPETITIONS. PRESENTLY, CONCACAF CONDUCTS OR FACILITATES THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIONS, AMONG OTHERS: - THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (AN ANNUAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT FOR CLUB TEAMS FROM NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF TEAMS FROM ANY ONE COUNTRY); - MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS; - MEN'S AND WOMEN'S U-20 AND U-17 (BIENNIAL TOURNAMENTS --MEN IN ONE YEAR, WOMEN IN THE NEXT --FOR PLAYERS UNDER AGE TWENTY OR UNDER AGE SEVENTEEN); - A QUADRENNIAL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT; AND - MEN'S & WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.