CONCACAF to fight for fourth World Cup spot
CONCACAF will fight for a guaranteed fourth place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, the confederation's Executive Committee announced Sunday.
Meeting in Panama City, site of the Copa Centroamericana, the committee expressed certainty that CONCACAF has earned the right to increase its allotment of slots at World Cup finals from the 3½ it currently possesses.
CONCACAF also announced plans for a year-long series of events commemorating the confederation's 50th anniversary. The 50th anniversary will be incorporated into all confederation activities, including a gala celebration during the Gold Cup this summer.
In another action, the United States was awarded the men's Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in March 2012. Tinoco, Li elected at UNCAF Congress
Rafael Tinoco was re-elected as UNCAF president at the organization's Ordinary Congress on Monday.
Tinoco had been nominated without opposition in November and received votes from five of the organization's seven federations. He is the first president in UNCAF history to be elected to consecutive terms in office.
Costa Rica Federation President Eduardo Li also was elected vice president. Li will replace fellow Costa Rican Jorge Ortega.
El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama qualify to Gold Cup; advance in Copa Centroamericana
El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama all won Sunday to reach the semifinals of the Copa Centroamericana - and earn berths in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Rafael Burgos scored a goal in each half to pace El Salvador over Belize 5-2; Costa Rica subdued Guatemala 2-0; and Panama beat Nicaragua 2-0.
El Salvador and Panama improved to six points each and will face off on Tuesday to determine the Group A winner and semifinal seeding.
Costa Rica's win gave it four points from two games to sit atop Group B, assuring it of advancing. Honduras has one point and Guatemala zero, leaving the Catrachos needing only a draw against the Chapines on Tuesday to claim the last semifinal spot.
Belize and Nicaragua were last in Group A with no points, with Tuesday's matchup determining who will get a chance to play for Central America's fifth and final berth in the Gold Cup.
Mexico U-17s finish second in Chilean tournament
The Mexican under-17 team was beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in the final of the Torneo Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile, on Sunday.
The team coached by Raul Gutierrez defeated Uruguay 2-1, club sides Universidad Catolica 5-1 and Argentine side Rosario Central 3-0 in the first round before beating Chile 1-0 in the semifinals.
Mexico will host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in June.
United States, Canada to take part in Four Nations Tournament in China next week
The United States and Canada women's national teams will compete in the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China beginning Friday, facing host China and Sweden. The tournament will run through Tuesday, January 25.
Both teams are currently preparing for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup that begins on June 26 in Germany.
National association matches
11.17.2010: Cape Town:
SOUTH AFRICA - UNITED STATES 0:1
11.17.2010: Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
JAMAICA - COSTA RICA 0:0
11.17.2010: Panama City, Panama:
PANAMA - HONDURAS 2:0
11.17.2010 - Atlanta:
GUATEMALA - GUYANA 3:0
11.18.2010 - Doha, Qatar:
QATAR- HAITI 0:1
12.18.2010 - San Pedro Sula, Honduras:
HONDURAS - PANAMA 2:1
12.28.2010 - Barcelona:
CATALUNYA - HONDURAS
4:0 1.22.2011 - Carson, California:
UNITED STATES - CHILE
2.9.2011: Larissa, Greece:
GREECE - CANADA
2.9.2011: San Salvador, El Salvador
EL SALVADOR - HAITI
2.9.2011: La Ceiba, Honduras:
HONDURAS - ECUADOR
2.9.2011: Miami:
GUATEMALA - NIGERIA
2.9.2011: Cairo:
EGYPT - UNITED STATES
2.9.2011: Atlanta:
MEXICO - BOSNIA
3.26.2011: San Jose, Costa Rica:
COSTA RICA - CHINA
3.26.2011: New York:
UNITED STATES - ARGENTINA
3.26.2011: Oakland:
MEXICO - PARAGUAY
3.29.2011: San Jose, Costa Rica:
COSTA RICA - ARGENTINA
3.29.2011: Nashville:
UNITED STATES - PARAGUAY
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