FIFA changes make impact on Bahamas

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FIFA’s Bureau of the Council approved changes to the organisations’ international calendar with a regional impact for the Bahamas.

The FIFA-Confederations COVID-19 Working Group proposed new dates for several tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup tentatively scheduled to commence July 10, 2021 - August 1, 2021.

Preliminary rounds will take place July 2-6, 2021, with a mandatory release starting on June 28, 2021.

The Bahamas will be one of 12 teams to participate in the preliminaries round that will take place in the United States.

Other participating teams will include Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The CONCACAF “Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers” were originally scheduled to take place March 2020 and June 2020, however, play was suspended due to COVID-19.

The Bahamas returned to regional competition last year in the CONCACAF Nations League and emerged as the top group team in League C, Group B.

The Bahamas finished as group winners with 10 points, and earned a berth in both League B and the 2021 Gold Cup qualifiers.