NEW YORK - The CONCACAF under-20 and under-17 championships will expand to 12 teams beginning in 2011, while the Women's Gold Cup and Olympic qualifying will increase to eight-team events beginning later this year, the confederation announced Tuesday.

The CONCACAF Executive Committee approved recommendations from its various competition committees to enlarge the tournaments, setting new berth allocations for the confederation's three zones: North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Superseding a decision in November that required the three North American teams (Canada, Mexico and the United States) to enter into qualifying with Central America, the Executive Committee approved that for both the men's U-17 and U-20 championships all three North American teams again will qualify automatically for the finals, while Central America will get four berths and the Caribbean five.

The new allocations give Central America one more berth than it had in 2009 and the Caribbean three more.

In the Women's Gold Cup and Olympic qualifying, Mexico no longer will qualify as part of Central America, but will now automatically advance along with its fellow North American neighbors giving the zone three berths. Central America will get two berths and the Caribbean three.

The Women's Gold Cup is set to be played in late October-early November while the women's Olympic qualifying is tentatively scheduled for early 2012.

Qualifying for the Women's Gold Cup already has commenced, with the Caribbean field already whittled down to eight teams. It resumes May 10. Central American qualifying was set to begin Tuesday with El Salvador playing Belize in Antigua, Guatemala.