The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday to strengthen and increase the degree of cooperation and dialogue between the two organisations.

The agreement was signed by the presidents of the two organisations in Zurich, Switzerland.

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “This agreement crystallises the closer relationship that the AFC has been building with our friends at CONCACAF, and the work that we have already started, for example in the area of club licensing. The two Confederations have many common features, and we look forward to working closely together with a focus on competitions and knowledge-sharing.”

The main focus of the cooperation agreement is in two areas: competitions and knowledge-sharing. In the area of competitions the two Confederations will explore the possibilities for competitions involving national or club teams from the two Confederations.  Knowledge-sharing and exchange of experiences will cover the many different areas of work of a Confederation, including administration and management, football development, competitions, refereeing, marketing, media, integrity, medicine, technology and social responsibility.

The Memorandum of Understanding is based on a set of shared values and principles between the two organisations, namely that:

• football is beneficial for the physical and mental health of both children and adults;
• football helps foster and promote fundamental educational and cultural values, such as fair play, team spirit and cooperation, self-control and respect for others;
• football contributes to social integration, cohesion and participation, both in Asia as well as North America, Central America and the Caribbean;
• football encourages peace and assists in developing environment of tolerance and understanding;
• football has positive educational qualities that are important for the development of sport and society in general; and
• football can significantly contribute to local development and the economy as a whole.