Confederation Stands Firm
Defying the wishes of FIFA, which wants to see the number of games reduced, South America will continue to organize its World Cup qualifying tournament as a single, 10-nation group.
That was the unanimous decision reached in Buenos Aires at a meeting of the leaders of CONMEBOL, the continent’s soccer confederation.
“There is unanimity to play the qualifiers in a round-robin format,” said Eugenio Figuerdo, president of Uruguay’s soccer federation, “and to make this possible they must be held from 2003 to 2005.”
The decision means South American countries will continue to play 18 qualifying matches apiece, and CONMEBOL will ask FIFA to set aside five playing dates in August 2003, seven in February 2004 and the remaining six 2005.
European clubs that have to release their South American players for each of those 18 games are sure to fight the CONMEBOL proposal.
Meanwhile, the organization also decided to stage the next Copa America, the continental championship, in Peru in 2004 and to switch from holding the event every two years to every four years.
Ruiz an MLS All-Star
Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz Wednesday was named one of 11 starters on the Major League Soccer team that will play the United States national team in the seventh MLS All-Star game Aug. 3 at Washington.
The Guatemalan forward, in his debut season in MLS, has scored 13 goals and is tied for the league scoring lead with another all-star selection, striker Taylor Twellman of the New England Revolution.
Three other players also will make their all-star debut. They are former UCLA defender Carlos Bocanegra of the Chicago Fire, defender Ryan Suarez of the Dallas Burn and midfielder Richard Mulrooney of the San Jose Earthquakes.
Rounding out the MLS starters are goalkeeper Tim Howard (New York/New Jersey MetroStars); defender Mike Petke (MetroStars), and midfielders Carlos Valderrama (Colorado Rapids), Mark Chung (Rapids), Steve Ralston (Revolution) and Dema Kovalenko (Fire).
Arena Likely to Stay
Bruce Arena, the coach who led the U.S. to its best World Cup performance in more than seven decades, is likely to remain in charge of the team, if a satisfactory contract can be agreed upon.
Earlier, Robert S. Contiguglia, the president of U.S. Soccer, had said it was up to Arena to decide what he wants.
Said Contiguglia: “Bruce has to decompress and decide what he wants to do with his life.”
