MIAMI: The central and North American confederation has decided to follow the expansionist fashion and increase the Gold Cup from 12 to 16 nations for the next CONCACAF championship next year.

FIFA is inflating the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026 after UEFA decision to expand the European Championship to 24 teams at its most recent tournament in 2016. As with FIFA, CONCACAF has also decided to embrace the concept of cohosting.

A statement said: “In exploring taking tournament matches outside of North America, the 2019 edition of the Gold Cup would fulfil a long-term aspiration for Central American and Caribbean member associations and fans of seeing the region’s championship disputed on their home ground.”

In recent years the biennial tournament has been staged in the United States and ocasionally included guests teams  such as Brazil and South Korea.

The United States and Mexico have won 13 of the 14 tournaments since its inception in 1991, with Canada the only nation to interrupt their dominance in 2000.

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