Mexico to host CONCACAF U-17 Championship, drawn with Costa Rica, Guatemala Trinidad

January 15, 2009

NEW YORK – Mexico will host the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in Tijuana April 21-May 2 and will face Costa Rica, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago in the first round.

Thursday’s announcement of the venue and dates for the biennial event was accompanied by the draw at CONCACAF’s New York Headquarters. This will be the first time since 1996 that the event, which will qualify four teams for the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria October 24-November 15, will be staged as a championship at a single venue.

The championship will be played at Estadio Caliente, home to Club Tijuana of the Mexican second division. With Mexico in Group B, the United States will be joined in Group A by Honduras, Canada and Cuba.

This is the third time Mexico will host the finals of the U-17 tournament. It staged the 1985 championship, and one of two groups that served as the finals in 2005.

The United States has never failed to qualify for the World Cup, advancing to the FIFA championship 13 times. Mexico has qualified the second-most, eight times, and went on win the World Cup in Peru in 2005. Costa Rica has qualified for each of the last four World Cups.

Match schedules were not immediately available, but should be confirmed with a week, CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said.

Group A

United States

Honduras

Canada

Cuba

Group B

Mexico

Costa Rica

Guatemala

Trinidad & Tobago

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