Under-20 football qualifiers heat up

NEW YORK: Jamaica’s young Reggae Boyz will open against hosts Honduras when Group “B” of the CONCACAF Under-20 final round qualification starts late next month in Honduras. Before the Jamaicans tackle the home team, Canada will face confederation giants Mexico in the opening match of the opening day double-header at Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on January 26. The group will qualify two teams to the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands. After the opening matches on January 26, Jamaica will play Mexico and Honduras face Canada, and the series ends on January 30, with Canada meeting Jamaica and Honduras playing Mexico.

The other two CONCACAF representatives to the FIFA Youth Tournament will come from CONCACAF Under-20 Group “A”, which has Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba/ Trinidad and Tobago and the host, USA competing at the Home Depot Centre in Carson, California from January 12-16, 2005. Trinidad and Tobago take a 3-2 series lead into their return match against Cuba on December 10 in Trinidad to decide the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) for Group “B” play. Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have both qualified for FIFA Youth (Under-20) finals in the past — TT to the 1989 Championship in Portugal, and Jamaica to the 2001 Finals in Argentina.

FINAL ROUND
Group “A” — Carson, California USA; Home Depot Centre
Jan 12: COSTA RICA vs PANAMA; USA vs CUBA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Jan 14: CUBA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO vs COSTA RICA; USA vs PANAMA
Jan 16: PANAMA vs CUBA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; USA vs COSTA RICA

Group “B” San Pedro Sula, Hondu-ras; Estadio Francisco Morazan
Jan 26: MEXICO vs CANADA; HONDURAS vs JAMAICA
Jan 28: JAMAICA vs MEXICO; HONDURAS vs CANADA
Jan 30: CANADA vs JAMAICA; HONDURAS vs MEXICO (CMC)