Why Suriname and Guyana do not compete in the Conmebol Qualifiers?
The Conmebol qualifiers started in September with the participation of 10 South American countries that compete against each other to earn a spot in the World Cup. Argentina and Brazil, along with Peru, have been part of the process. However, not everyone knows that there are two countries in our continent that are not part of the qualification process. Why?
These two teams, unlike the rest of the states in the continent, participate in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and they are Suriname and Guyana, who also miss the opportunity to play in the Copa America. That's why we reveal to you the reason why they don't compete with the South of America.
Why Suriname and Guyana don't compete in the Conmebol Qualifiers?
Geographically, these two lands belong to the southern zone of America, but they are not known for the sport. What are the three reasons why they don't play in the Conmebol?
Language: In most parts of South America, the most spoken language is Spanish. However, in Suriname, the majority of the population speaks Dutch, while in Guyana it's English. The former was ruled by the Netherlands, while the latter was ruled by the United Kingdom.
Football level: Internationally, there are many places where football is very popular, but in these territories, it's not the most popular sport compared to cricket. Therefore, their football level is very low.
Independence: Suriname and Guyana are the nations in America that obtained their independence later (in 1966 and 1975 respectively). By that time, nations like Chile, Colombia, among others, already had over 100 years of sovereignty. Additionally, and last but not least, Conmebol was founded in 1961.