Initiative promotes a stadium atmosphere of respect, equality and acceptance during the 31 matches of the competition
 Miami (Friday, June 14, 2019) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) will leverage the expansion of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup to continue raising awareness on diversity and inclusion through its “Let’s Live in a State of Goal!” campaign, among fans and other members of the football community.

The initiative, launched in the 2017 edition of the competition, is inspired by the diversity and cultural richness of the 41 countries in the region the Confederation serves – from Canada to Honduras to Suriname. Concacaf continues working with key stakeholders on education and actions focused on promoting acceptance and respect in and around its Gold Cup matches, which will feature sixteen nations and will play across three countries, the United States, Costa Rica and Jamaica. 

“The biggest-ever edition of our premier tournament is a powerful platform to unite thousands of fans who share the love for our game, in a unique celebration of football, pride and cultural diversity,” said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. “We stand against all forms of discrimination and are committed to continue raising awareness on diversity, equality and access, while ensuring that the fan experience is safe and inclusive across the board.”

The “Let’s Live in a State of Goal!” campaign features a range of initiatives meant to inspire fans to experience the Gold Cup in a way that is in line with the unique euphoria of the game’s defining moment – the goal. The program includes awareness messages on TV, radio and online, designed to promote and create an environment in which fans and others at and around the matches can more readily enjoy the Gold Cup events.

Concacaf will enforce the Fan Code of Conduct at every match and activate a proactive protocol announcement before kickoff and at half time, encouraging a culture of respect and inclusion, while urging fans to refrain from utilizing abusive, sexist, racial, obscene and disruptive language or inappropriate behavior.

In an effort to continue raising awareness, the Confederation is partnering with key stakeholders to build a more welcoming stadium environment for fans, players, teams and stadium personnel. During Gold Cup, the initiative will specifically target inappropriate behavior that can negatively impact the stadium experience for some of the diverse groups of fans who enjoy football across the region.

2019 Gold Cup
The 15th edition of the Gold Cup will feature more participating nations (16 up from 12 in 2017), more host countries (three, including first-time matches in Costa Rica and Jamaica), and more stadiums (17 up from 14 in 2017, eight of which are in contention to become a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue)The 16 participating nations are: Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States. The Gold Cup Final is set for Soldier Field in Chicago on July 7. Full schedule can be viewed here.