TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

CONCACAF Fun Facts

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 9, 2008

•For the first time, the U.S. Under-23 team will be composed solely of professional players. In previous tournaments, there has been at least one college player.

•Since the first Olympics in 1908, no CONCACAF nation has won the title. The region's best showing is a fourth-place finish, by Mexico in 1968 when it hosted the Olympics, and by the U.S. at the 2000 Sydney Games.

•The parents of U.S. striker Jozy Altidore were born in Haiti, which is playing in Group B of the tournament. In 2006, Altidore, along with N.Y. Red Bulls teammates Seth Stammler and fellow Haitian-American Jerrod Laventure, went on a six-day service trip to Haiti with Grammy Award winning musician Wyclef Jean and his charitable organization, Yele Haiti.

•Altidore was the fourth-leading goal scorer at last summer's Under-20 World Cup in Canada, tallying four goals in five games. Seven players from the U.S. Under-23 roster were part of the squad's quarterfinal run in Canada at the U-20 World Cup.

•Team USA has the most appearances of any CONCACAF team at the Olympic Games (12) but has won only one of the 11 CONCACAF qualifying tourneys.

•Every national team in the tournament has a nickname - except the U.S.. Even Canada has "Maple Leafs" as a nickname. The other nicknames include Leones del Caribe (Cuba), Chapines (Guatemala), Les Bicolores (Haiti), Catrachos (Honduras), Tricolores (Mexico) and Canaleros (Panama).

•This is the first time in eight years that the final round of the CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying will be held in the U.S.. The 2000 event took place in Hershey, Pa.

•Cuba has the most appearances by any Caribbean nation at the Olympic Games, competing in Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980.

•Mexico is the defending CONCACAF Under-23 champion and has competed in nine Olympic Games. The Tricolores have won a CONCACAF-record five Olympic qualifying tournaments and are on a 21-game unbeaten streak in CONCACAF qualifying matches. Mexico's last defeat came against the U.S., a 3-0 loss in 1992.

•Former national team star Hugo Sanchez is the technical director for Mexico.

Bill Ward

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT