Merging Concacaf and Conmebol won't happen because this is soccer and each has its own cadre of people that have gotten rich off of their positions within Concacaf or Conmebol. None of these fat cats wants to upset their own gravy train.

But if it could happen -- especially if the Caribbean nations left to form their own weakling association -- then a combined 20-nation "Americas" federation would benefit both North and South American programs.

The national teams of the North American countries would improve from regular competition at a higher level than Concacaf, the South American teams would get more access to the audiences and money in North America, the "Americas" qualifying matches for the World Cup would fill stadiums and generate lots of TV revenue, and there would probably be at least 10 World Cup places (in the expanded World Cup) for the 20 nations to compete for.

And a Champions League among club teams in the "Americas" would be far more entertaining and competitive than Concacaf's Champions League.

But it won't happen.