Canada futsal national team head coach Kyt Selaidopoulos (center) speaks to his squad during a training camp in March 2016. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – A pair of two-legged qualifying playoffs for the remaining two berths in the 2016 CONCACAF Futsal Championship (CFC) kick-off today at the BN Arena.
With six of the teams in the field already decided, Trinidad & Tobago will square off against Honduras, while Canada will meet North American-rival United States.
Canada, which has participated in only one of the previous five CFC editions, can’t wait for the opening whistle.
“We are ready for these matches,” said head coach Kyt Selaidopoulos. “The two play-in matches against the Americans have been the focus of our entire player pool for the past number of months. We will leave everything on the field tonight and tomorrow. For the next two days we are on a mission.”
Host and defending champion Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Guatemala, Mexico and Panama have already earned places in the competition.
The second leg of the playoffs are slated for Thursday.
CONCACAF.com takes a look at the four squads looking to join them:
Trinidad & Tobago v Honduras, 7:30 p.m. ET
Have never met in CFC play
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Previous Appearances: 2-2004, 2008
Best Finish: Group Stage-2 (2004, 2008)
Qualification Method: n/a
All-Time Finals Record: W-1; D-0; L-5; GF-17; GA-37
World Cup Appearances: 0
Head Coach: Clayton Morris
Trinidad & Tobago has previously participated in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship in 2004 and 2008. It defeated Guadeloupe, 5-2, in the Caribbean qualifying tournament’s third-place match to reach the playoff against Honduras. Jerwyn Balthazar was the top scorer in all of qualifying with eight goals.
HONDURAS
Previous Appearances: 0
Best Finish: n/a
Qualification Method: n/a
All-Time Finals Record: n/a
World Cup Appearances: 0
Head Coach: Satalin Zavala
Honduras is searching for its first-ever appearance in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship. It defeated El Salvador, 5-2, in the match for third place in the Central American qualifying tournament to reach the playoff against Trinidad & Tobago. Carlos Alvarado, Juan Hernandez, Antonio Moncada, Carlos Montes and Edwin Raudales were the Catrachos’ top scorers in qualifying with two goals each.
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Canada v USA, 10:00 p.m. ET
USA leads all-time CFC series: 1W-0D-0L (3GF, 0GA)
CANADA
Previous Appearances: 1-2012
Best Finish: Group Stage (2012)
Qualification Method: n/a
All-Time Finals Record: W-0; D-0; L-3; GF-10; GA-18
World Cup Appearances: 1 (1989)
Head Coach: Kyt Selaidopoulos
Canada has participated in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship once. In 2012, it defeated El Salvador in a qualifying playoff, 7-6 on aggregate.
USA
Previous Appearances: 5-1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
Best Finish: Champion-2 (1996, 2004)
Qualification Method: n/a
All-Time Finals Record: W-14; D-3; L-5; GF-83; GA-42
World Cup Appearances: 5-1989, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2008
Head Coach: Keith Tozer
With two CONCACAF Futsal Championship crowns, the USA is level with Costa Rica for the most tournament titles. The Americans last lifted the trophy in 2004 in Heredia, Costa Rica. They are looking to join Costa Rica, Cuba and Mexico as the only teams to participate in every CONCACAF futsal tournament.
