CONCACAF wants fourth World Cup spot

NEW YORK (CMC):

CONCACAF says it will fight for a fourth spot at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, with the organisation contending on Sunday that it had merited the increase based on its growth in recent years.

The move follows a meeting of CONCACAF's executive committee in Panama City at the weekend, which was attended by Caribbean football magnate Jack Warner, who is president of the organisation.

CONCACAF is the continental governing body for football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean and currently has three automatic spots and one play-off berth at the showpiece held every four years.

Deserving a full place

"We believe that CONCACAF deserves another full place at the World Cup finals," said Warner, a powerful FIFA vice-president.

"We have earned it. Our teams have proven themselves on the field of play, our administrative capacity has grown on and off the field of play, we have shown that CONCACAF is a powerhouse."

FIFA's executive committee is expected to rule on CONCACAF's request at a meeting in March.

At last year's World Cup in South Africa, CONCACAF was represented by traditional powerhouses United States and Mexico, with Honduras securing the third automatic spot.

Costa Rica, who finished fourth in the final-round qualifying campaign, then lost their play-off against South Ameri-cans Uruguay to miss out on the showpiece.

In 2006, Trinidad and Tobago became only the second English-speaking Caribbean team to qualify for the World Cup in Germany, with the US, Mexico and Costa Rica also qualifying.

"After 50 years of existence, CONCACAF has proven that it is worthy of four spots in the World Cup," Warner continued.

"We the members of the executive committee will do all in our power to ensure that our region continues to flourish, advance, and progress."

CONCACAF, one of the largest voting blocs in FIFA, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and is expected to roll out a series of events to commemorate the milestone.