-CONCACAF website
Next Friday’s World Cup qualifying match between Guyana and Mexico has been moved to Houston, Texas, United States of America, the CONCACAF website confirmed yesterday.
The local daily newspaper the Guyana Times on Monday had reported that there was a possibility that the match would no longer be played in Guyana, at the Providence National Stadium, to be exact, but in the USA.
Yesterday, the CONCACAF website, quoting the Dynamo and Mexican Football Federation, stated that the match, which was supposed to be a home game, will now be held at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium.
According to the website the decision to move the match was based on an appeal by the Guyana Football Federation to the International Football Federation (FIFA).
“The Dynamo said on its website Monday night that it would host the match and the Mexican federation confirmed the venue change yesterday morning,” the CONCACAF report stated.
It added that the $95-million BBVA Compass Stadium, which was opened on May 12, has a capacity of 22,000. The stadium serves as home to the Dynamo and has also hosted international rugby and American football. It also hosted an international soccer friendly match between New Zealand and El Salvador on May 23.
While Mexico has already qualified for the semifinal round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, having won all four of its matches, Guyana’s Golden Jaguars are on the brink of elimination, with only one point gained from a draw against Costa Rica in Costa Rica.
El Salvador are second in the group (Group) B with five points and Costa Rica, third with four.
Guyana must win both of its remaining games to have any chance of advancing since only two teams from the group will qualify for the final round.
The GFF has scheduled a press conference for this afternoon at 2pm at its headquarters, Lot 17 Dadanawa Street Section “K” Campbellville. According to a release the main topic of discussion will be the decision to move the scheduled home game on October 12 to neutral territory in Houston, United States.
Meanwhile, CONCACAF also announced the appointment of Horace Reid as its Director of Competitions effective November1.
Reid, the organization stated, “brings extensive experience in the football field as General Secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for the past five years and, previously, as Executive Director of the Marketing Division at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).”
