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NEW YORK - The two-time and defending champion United States will open the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship against Guatemala on March 2, a day after Canada faces Haiti, and Mexico plays Jamaica.
The schedule for the March 1-11 event announced Wednesday has host Panama beginning with a match against Cuba.
Mexico will face Canada on the final day of Group A play on March 5 in a rematch of their 2010 semifinal in which El Tri beat the Canadians 1-0 in extra time.
Group B will conclude round-robin play with Panama, which has never advanced past the first round, facing the United States on March 6. All matches are set for Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
The semifinals on March 9 will determine two of CONCACAF's three qualifiers to the U-20 Women's World Cup, with the third-place match - which will precede the final on March 11 -- to decide the other.
FIFA originally had selected Uzbekistan as host of the U-20 Women's World Cup, but withdrew that choice in December due to "logistical and technical" reasons. It said Japan has offered to stage the event and that FIFA is considering their proposal.
2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship Schedule
At Panama City, Panama
All times U.S. Eastern (local times in parentheses)
FIRST ROUND
Group A: Mexico, Canada, Haiti, Jamaica
Group B: Panama, United States, Guatemala, Cuba
Thursday, March 1
Canada vs. Haiti, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Mexico vs. Jamaica, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, March 2
United States vs. Guatemala, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Panama vs. Cuba, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 3
Mexico vs. Haiti, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Jamaica vs. Canada, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
Sunday, March 4
Cuba vs. United States, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Panamá vs. Guatemala, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
Monday, March 5
Haiti vs. Jamaica, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Canada vs. Mexico, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 6
Guatemala vs. Cuba, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Panama vs. United States, 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 9
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 5 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
*Match order subject to change
Sunday, March 11
THIRD PLACE
Semifinal losers, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)
