The year of 2011 in CONCACAF marked the 48th year of CONCACAF competitions.
Events
Men
Javier Hernandez, of Mexico, earned the Golden boot in the 2011 Gold Cup, scoring seven goals in the tournament, including a hat trick against El Salvador.
From 5 June through 25 June, CONCACAF hosted its eleventh biannual regional tournament, the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Hosted in the United States, it was the fourth-consecutive tournament that the Gold Cup was solely held in the United States. The Gold Cup saw Mexico earn their sixth Gold Cup honor, by defeating tournament hosts, and longtime rivals, the United States, by a 4–2 scoreline. The Mexican team earned their way into the finals through the virtue of winning Group A with a perfect 3–0–0 record, prior to defeating Guatemala and Honduras in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. The U.S. team, finished as runners-up in 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C after posting a record of two wins, a loss and no draws. In the knockout stage, the U.S. defeated Group B winners, Jamaica by 2–0 scoreline, before defeating Group C winners, Panama 1–0 in the semifinals.
That same month, the final stage of the 2011 CFU Club Championship was contested as the Puerto Rico Islanders won their third Caribbean club title, defeating Haiti's Tempête FC in the final. With Guyana's Alpha United defeating Trinidad and Tobago's Defence Force, the 2011–12 Champions League will feature Caribbean clubs from outside of Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.
In July 2011, the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League began with the Preliminary round being held. The following month, the group stage of the tournament began. For the first time ever in a meaningful competition, an American soccer team defeated a Mexican soccer club on Mexican soil, as FC Dallas defeated UNAM 1–0.[1] During the same round of group matches, Seattle Sounders FC became the second American club to defeat a Mexican team in Mexico, this time beating the defending 2010–11 champions, Monterrey by an identical 1–0 scoreline.[2]
After four seasons of the North American SuperLiga, the tournament was discontinued, with MLS commissioner Don Garber commissioner stating that "SuperLiga was a great tournament which served its purpose during its time. CONCACAF got more and more committed to a continental tournament with the Champions League, which we’re very supportive of. It has delivered the value we intended in SuperLiga to put our teams against the best competition in this region".[3]
Prior to the cancellation of the tournament, the SuperLiga had a format very similar to UEFA's Europa League in which the best clubs in the U.S. and Mexico not to qualify for the Champions League earned a berth into the tournament. The final SuperLiga championship involved Morelia of Mexico defeating New England Revolution of the United States, 2–1.
The Puerto Rico Islanders, picture above, won their second-consecutive Caribbean club championship.
Puerto Rico Islanders won the 2011 edition of the CFU Club Championship, making it both their second ever CFU Club title and their second-consecutive subcontinental championship. Played at Providence Stadium in Providence, Guyana on 27 May, the Islanders defeated Tempête of Haiti, 3–1, in extra time, to win the CFU Club Championship. Puerto Rico's Jay Needham scored for the Islanders in the 34th minute of regulation, while Tempête's Junior Charles scored in the 42nd minute. In extra time, Puerto Rico's Jonathan Faña netted in the 100th and 113th minute of play.[4] For reaching the finals, both Puerto Rico Islanders and Tempête FC qualified into the preliminary round of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League.
The third place match also determined the final entrant into the Champions League. There, Guyana's Alpha United became the first Guyanese club to qualify for the Champions League by defeating Trinidad and Tobago's Defence Force 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out.
Some CONCACAF nations determine their league champion through a post-season tournament. This list reflects on the team that won the premiership, often known as the team with the best regular season record. In seasons which the Apertura and Clasura and used to create an aggregate/relegation table for the season, the team with the better aggregate record is listed as the premier.
Several CONCACAF nations, most notably nations that do not use the Apertura/Clasura system host a domestic knockout cup that parallels the league seasons. These cups are open to all divisions of each nation's respective pyramid.
E. ^ Guatemala's Comunicaciones won both the 2011 Apertura and Clausura titles.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L. ^ The U.S. Virgin Islands Championship hosted respective regular seasons for each island's soccer league, but a tournament to determine the champion was not held.
M. ^ The W-League, though the second division women's soccer league in the United States is the top division of women's soccer in Canada.
