Juan Romero Silver Spring, Md. I would like to know if there will be a Copa Merconorte this year. I remember last year it was canceled due to the busy Mexican season. If so, would MLS teams be included in the tournament. Amparo Simón: The Copa Merconorte ’99 started at the end of July without any Mexican or MLS teams. It has been divided into three groups with clubs from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. When the Copa Merconorte was inaugurated last year, it was perceived as another chance for MLS and Mexico teams to prove themselves outside their weak CONCACAF region. It was to be a 16-team tournament pitting top teams from seven nations — the five northern South American countries plus Mexico and the United States. But the tournament’s promoter, an Argentine company named Teledeportes, notified CONMEBOL that the tournament was canceled less than two weeks before the first game. The conflict started when the Mexican clubs Cruz Azul, Club America and Chivas of Guadalajara — three of the nation’s most popular clubs — announced their withdrawal, citing their crowded schedule. The Mexican federation reportedly offered Necaxa and Toluca for the Cup, but Teledeportes insisted on sticking to the original plan. When it was evident that the Mexicans weren’t going to acquiesce, Teledeportes canceled the competition and issued this statement: “The deadline to confirm the participation of Mexican teams had expired … causing the lack of interest from Mexican and U.S. television.” But the Copa was rescheduled without the participation of the Mexican teams and MLS teams (D.C. United and L.A. Galaxy had been the original entrants). Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela sent their representatives to the tournament, which was poorly attended. Colombian teams Atletico Nacional and Deportivo Cali met in a two-leg final that Atletico won, 4-1, on aggregate.