BLAZER: CONCACAF EXPECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A PLAYOFF AGAINST A TEAM FROM ASIA FOR A PLACE IN THE 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP

Three of the Top Soccer Officials In North America Discussed the State of the Game in the Region During Today's 6th Honda Symposium in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES (October 8, 2003) - Chuck Blazer, the General Secretary of CONCACAF, announced at today's Honda Symposium that CONCACAF expects that the team which finishes in fourth-place in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup will play a team from Asia in a playoff for a berth in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

"Both CONCACAF and Asia expect to play each other in a playoff," said Mr. Blazer.

CONCACAF was originally granted 3.5 places in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, when the Oceania Confederation earlier this year lost the automatic place it had been granted by FIFA in December 2001, they began proposing different ideas, none of which have been finalized by FIFA.

Mr. Blazer also said that the issue may come up later this month when the FIFA Committee on the 2006 FIFA World Cup meets.

Additionally, Mr. Blazer discussed plans on the return of the FIFA World Cup Championship, saying that, "Personally, I would like to see it every year, as opposed to every second year. But if it happens every second year, so be it."

In regards to CONCACAF's growing relationship with the South American Confederation, CONMEBOL, Mr. Blazer said that "We are two confederations working together with common goals. There will not be one confederation."

He also mentioned that both CONCACAF and CONMEBOL are still searching for ways to create new competitions involving club teams from both regions, which perhaps will take place in the fall of each year.

Mr. Blazer has been the General Secretary of CONCACAF for over a decade, and a member of FIFA's Executive Committee since 1996. His remarks came during a presentation titled "CONCACAF in the New Millennium: Thoughts on the New International Calendar and Integration with CONMEBOL."

Today's Honda Symposium and Tuesday's Honda Player of the Year award ceremony were attended by many leading personalities in the world of soccer who traveled from all over the world to Los Angeles in order to attend these events. They include current and former players such as Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda, and Rick Davis; coaches such as Humberto Grondona, who earlier this year led Mexico to an impressive 6th place finish at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship; and executives including Ricardo Mendez and Gustavo Fernandez of the Mexican Soccer Federation, Doug Hamilton of the LA Galaxy, Johnny Moore of the San Jose Earthquakes, and AYSO National Executive Director Cherie Tucker.

For more than a decade, Honda has supported soccer programs and played a part in the growth of this exciting sport in America. Honda's current support includes 13 years as a sponsor of the Honda Player of the Year and 6 years as a sponsor of the Honda Symposium, as well as 8 years as the official Automotive Sponsor and Official Vehicle of Major League Soccer.

Fútbol de Primera is the official U.S. radio broadcaster in all languages of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and all FIFA Additional Events, as well as all Mexican National Team games. FDP's daily programs are heard throughout the U.S., Mexico and Central America. For more information, please visit Fútbol de Primera online at www.LaRadioDelMundial.com.