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PANAMA CITY -- Six-time winner Costa Rica will open the 2011 Copa Centroamericana against Honduras while host Panama will take on Belize in Central America's biennial championship.

Thursday night's draw set the groups for the tournament, with defending champion Panama heading Group A along with El Salvador, Belize and Nicaragua, while Group B will be comprised of Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala.

Formerly known as the Copa UNCAF, the event will be played at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City starting January 14 and finishing with the championship and third-place matches on January 23. Besides crowning the winner, the tournament also will qualify five teams for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.

The first two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals with the third-place teams facing off for fifth place and the final berth in the Gold Cup.

This will be the second time the Central American nations' championship has been played in Panama and first since 2003.

Costa Rica is the most successful nation with Honduras next having won twice. Panama and Guatemala have won one each.

Copa Centroamericana
At Panama City
All Times TBA

Group A
Panama
El Salvador
Nicaragua
Belize

Group B
Costa Rica
Honduras
Guatemala

Friday, January 14
Costa Rica vs. Honduras
El Salvador vs. Nicaragua
Panama vs. Belize

Sunday, January 16
Guatemala vs. Costa Rica
Belize vs. El Salvador
Panama vs. Nicaragua

Tuesday, January 18
Honduras vs. Guatemala
Nicaragua vs. Belize
Panama vs. El Salvador

Friday, January 21
Fifth Place
Group A third-place vs. Group B third-place
Semifinals
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up

Sunday, January 23
Third Place
Semifinal losers
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners

NOTE: Order of matches subject to change with kickoff times pending television requirements.