Under-17 World Cup qualifiers kicks off today
Published:Monday | February 14, 2011 | 1:58 PM
The CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, which will take place at two venues in Western Jamaica, kicks off this afternoon with a double-header at the Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay.
The tournament will open with Haiti, one of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifiers, against Central American qualifier Costa Rica in a Group-A encounter.
That match is scheduled to start at 12.30 p.m.
The second match, a Group-B encounter, features Cuba against title holders the United States at 3 o’clock.
Hosts Jamaica, drawn in Group-C, will open their campaign against Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow afternoon at the Catherine Hall Stadium. The match is set to kick off an hour after the 2 p.m. Opening Ceremony.
The ultimate prize for the 12 teams is a place at the FIFA Under-17 Boys’ World Cup in June in Mexico.
With Mexico hosting the World Cup, the country is guaranteed a berth, and so the four teams that reach the semi-finals will earn a place in the global competition.
This would effectively mean that CONCACAF will have five nations taking part at the Under-17 Boys’ World Cup.
The qualifiers will feature 20 matches over a two-week spell with Jarrett Park in Montego Bay being the second venue.
Jarrett Park was only confirmed the second venue a few days ago after Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium was deemed unacceptable for use by the CONCACAF inspection team because of the condition of the natural grass field.