Today, the Cayman Islands native has reaffirmed his ideas of developing, promoting and managing the sport with integrity, transparency and passion to inspire participation in the game.

“After a year leading CONCACAF, I’m grateful to all of our member associations, business partners, coaches, players, aficionados, and all of those who believe in our beautiful sport for supporting this journey and contributing to our continued quest to building a stronger Confederation,” Webb said in a statement.

The confederation’s focus on reform showcased an administration that is geared towards empowering the region through development and governance. Webb’s effort is centered on establishing solid foundations to grow the sport and succeed from the grassroots level to worldwide competitions.

“Over the past year, we have seen the first steps towards reforming CONCACAF. By redefining our destiny, we have set the course that will write a new chapter in our region’s future. Our goal is to bring back the trust and confidence by establishing a process of accountability,” Webb said. “It’s ultimately about the passion to play this beautiful game.”

Webb, a FIFA vice president, has been thrilled with the region’s on-the-field successes over the past year. The gold medals won by the Mexican men and U.S. women, plus the bronze medal earned by Canada’s women at the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as the American women winning the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, were inspiring achievements.

“We have set an unprecedented landmark by becoming the first confederation in history to win the Gold Medal in both male and female categories in the same Olympic Games,” Webb said.

As an impending issue on the global agenda, CONCACAF is committed to lead the way in the fight against discrimination as a top priority for the confederation. Webb, who recently was appointed head of FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, wants to help assist in fulfilling football’s commitment to eradicate racism from the fields.

“We have a special responsibility in the way we can impact football and society. One of the opportunities this task force has is its vast reach throughout FIFA’s 209 member associations where we can implement the resolutions in every region and every country where football is played, bringing universality to the mechanisms that combat racism and discrimination,” Webb said.

Photo: Jeffrey Webb has been CONCACAF president for a year. Photo courtesy of CONCACAF

On Wednesday, the expansion team named former U.S. National Team captain and Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna as its director of football.

Reyna, who stepped down from his position as youth technical director with U.S. Soccer, will be responsible for building the soccer elements of the team’s organization, including the recruitment of players, coaches and trainers, and other support staff, in preparation for its debut MLS season in 2015.

The announcement took place at PS 72 (Lexington Academy) in East Harlem, which houses the city’s only rooftop soccer field, which was donated by Manchester City Football Club in 2010.

New York City FC was announced on Tuesday as part of a partnership of global sports powers — Manchester City FC and the New York Yankees as the league’s 20th team. Reyna captained Man City during his tenure with the English Premier League club.

“Finding the right person for this role and getting him in place from the start was a priority,” Manchester United CEO Ferran Soriano said in a statement. “The football culture of New York City FC will be built from this decision, and we believe Claudio is the man who uniquely understands what New York soccer should mean, and how it can benefit from the relationship with Manchester.”

Reyna, who turns 40 on July 20, knows the local soccer scene quite well. He grew up in Livingston, N.J., starred at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J. and lives in Westchester County.

“Having had the privilege of playing both for my country here in the US and for Manchester City FC in England, I could not have hoped for a more tailored-made opportunity in soccer,” Reyna said in a statement. “I am incredibly excited to again wear City’s ‘Sky Blue’ as part of the expansion of the MLS and the growth of soccer in the United States, and am honored to have been offered this opportunity. With a large fan base through the New York area, prime television rights and distribution, sponsorship commitments, and the Yankees as a US partner, the New York City Football Club has everything in place to succeed.”

Reyna is a four-time World Cup veteran, had turned down a coaching position with the Red Bulls in January.

“During his time U.S. Soccer’s Youth Technical Director, Claudio helped modernize the approach to youth player development in this country and put us on a path to success,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement. “We appreciate all his hard work and dedication. We certainly understand this is a unique opportunity for Claudio and his family, and wish him continued success.”

The draw, presided over by CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, will be conducted at the InterContinental at Doral in Miami at 8 p.m.

Representatives of the 24 participating teams will be on hand for the live event and available to media members at the conclusion of the draw.

Purdy will join La Selecta on Monday, following Sunday’s match between Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center. He will return to the Rojiblancos in time to be available for MLS’ Week 13 match at Colorado Rapids this Saturday.

“I feel happy to be returning to La Selecta and above all to represent my country and face a very good national team like Venezuela,” Purdy said. “I always work hard day after day to win a permanent spot on the team and to be considered for El Salvador’s national team. The Gold Cup is right around the corner and I want to be part of the final cut.”

Born in Bakersfield, Calif. Purdy is the son of an American father and Salvadorian mother. The 28-year-old was selected to represent El Salvador for the first time in 2011 in the Gold Cup. It was in the quarterfinals against Panama that Purdy made his international debut. On October 11, 2011, he recorded his first goal and assist in a 4-0 rout over the Cayman Islands at El Salvador’s Estadio de Cuscatlan.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead on a Nathan Sturgis goal in the 24th minute. Martin Rivero swung a corner kick to the near post that Sturgis volleyed in his first goal of the season.

But the Quakes (3-4-6, 15 points) equalized in the 78th minute. Chavez knuckled in his free kick past goalkeeper Clint Irwin for his first goal of the season.

The Rapids moved to 4-4-4 and 16 points in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.

The MLS Players Union informed the League on Friday that Arrieta, a Costa Rican, will appeal the second game of the suspension.

Arrieta will serve the first game of his suspension this Saturday when the Crew play at Toronto FC. The result of the appeal of the second game’s suspension will be announced at a later date.

The Impact had hoped to score at least a goal or two and build a cushion before a crowd of 12,016 at Saputo Stadium before it plays at Vancouver in the second leg on May 29.

“Obviously it would have been nice to have nicked one of the chances that we had in the first half, but I think the defending was very good,” Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie told the Vancouver radio station TEAM 1410. “We were well organized, and it puts us in a good position going into the [second leg].”

The winner will clinch a spot in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League.

Earthquakes midfielder-forward Marvin Chavez had his two-game suspension reduced to one match by MLS commissioner Don Garber. Chavez had been given a two-game ban for violent conduct in a 2-1 home win over Toronto FC on May 8.

After hearing Chavez’s appeal, Garber knocked a game off his suspension, meaning the Honduran could play for San Jose against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

Vancouver Whitecaps defender-midfielder Johnny Leveron, however, was not as fortunate. He was suspended one game for a reckless challenge that endangered the safety of his opponent, LA Galaxy forward Jose Villareal, in the third minute in Vancouver’s 3-1 win on Saturday.

Leveron will serve his ban when Vancouver plays the Portland Timbers this Saturday.

Photo: Marvin Chavez will get an opportunity play for San Jose on Saturday. Andy Mead/YCJ

On Saturday, Roger Espinoza, Emmerson Boyce and their Wigan Athletic teammates were on Cloud 9 after they secured the English F.A. Cup with a dramatic, 11th-hour victory over heavily favored Manchester City, 1-0, at Wembley Stadium.

On Tuesday, they were back in London — at Emirates Stadium — where they wound up behind the eight ball as they saw their dreams of remaining in the English Premier League shattered with a shattering 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the pouring rain.

In other words, Wigan will be relegated for the 2013-2014 season, making the club the first English side to suffer the drop the name year in which won the F.A. Cup.

Needless to say, Espinoza, a Honduran international midfielder, and Boyce, a Barbados defender, had to be crushed with the result, especially after Wigan battled back from a 1-0 deficit to equalize. But the Gunners struck for three goals within an eight-minute span to break the open and break Wigan’s hearts with one match remaining in the EPL season.

The win kept Arsenal to earn the fourth spot and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, leading archrival Tottenham by a point with the final round of games to be played on Sunday.

Lukas Podolski gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute before Shaun Maloney equalized for Wigan off a free kick in the 45th minute.

Wigan needed a win and more goals in the second half to keep its survival chances afloat, but the visitors could never find the back of the net. But Arsenal certainly did.

Theo Walcott broke the 1-1 tie as he headed home a Santi Cazorla right-wing cross in the 63rd minute. Only five minutes later, Podolski put another nail in Wigan’s coffin, converting a Carorla pass for a 3-1 advantage. And Aaron Ramsey concluded the scoring in the 71st minute.