The upcoming edition of the CONCACAF Nations League marks the start of a momentous period for football in the region.
The recent Gold Cup, won by Mexico, served as a curtain-raiser for this epoch of American soccer that culminates in the 2026 World Cup hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Given that there are three CONCACAF qualification places for 2026 and an inter-confederational play-off spot in addition to automatic qualification for the three hosts - it could be the first time that CONCACAF has as many representatives in a World Cup as CONMEBOL (South America).
While the 2023 Gold Cup and the 2022-23 Nations League were something of a preview and a chance to see where the contenders are ahead of these crucial moments, the 2023-24 Nations League is where it starts to get serious.
There is already something big on the line for the teams in League A, as the latest edition serves as a pathway for six of the best from CONCACAF to qualify for the 2024 Copa America, hosted in the United States and co-organised by the two confederations.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of World Soccer.
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This story is from the September 2023 edition of World Soccer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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