Concacaf has announced that its Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Nicaraguan Football Federation (FENIFUT) for a serious violation of the applicable FIFA/Concacaf regulations by fielding an ineligible player in eight matches of the Nicaraguan Men’s National Team, including matches of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) 2022/23.
Given this serious violation of the regulations, the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee has decided to exclude the Nicaraguan Men’s Team from competing in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, and relegate it to the 2023/24 CNL B League.
Due to the decision of the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee, the Concacaf Council has made the following determinations regarding the implications of this decision on the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League:
Concacaf Gold Cup 2023
The Nicaraguan Men’s National Team will be replaced in the Group Phase of the Gold Cup 2023 (Group A) by the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team, by virtue of being the best second place of the League B groups in the CNL 2022/ 2. 3.
The place in the Preliminary Round of the Gold Cup previously held by the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team will go to the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s National Team, by virtue of being the best third place (not qualified for the Preliminary Round of the Gold Cup 2023 ) of the groups of League B in the CNL 2022/23.
Based on the official draw for the Gold Cup Preliminary Round and Group Stage, which took place on April 14, 2023, the winner of Preliminary 1 will advance to Preliminary 7, and the winner of Preliminary 7 will be ranked D4. from Group D. This remains unchanged.
Concacaf Nations League 2023/2024
The Nicaraguan Men’s National Team will be replaced in League A of the CNL 2023/24 by the Men’s National Team of Trinidad and Tobago, by virtue of being the best second place in the League B groups in the CNL 2022/23.
The Nicaraguan National Team will be located in position B1 of Group B of League B, which is the position left vacant by the Trinidad and Tobago National Team given its classification to League A.
