PUEBLA, Mexico (Wednesday, November 21, 2012) — The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced the results of the draw for the tournament that will determine the four regional representatives for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.  The first round will see host and defending champion Mexico play El Salvador and Curacao in Group D at the finals of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

The draw for the competition, which will be played from February 18 – March 3 in Puebla, was held at the Casa Puebla and conducted by CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz.

In Group A, the United States will face two-time winner Costa Rica and Haiti.  The U.S. will be aiming for its 13th appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Group B includes Canada, Nicaragua and Cuba.  The Canadians are looking for their first CONCACAF Under-20 title since 1996.

Group C pits Jamaica, Panama and Puerto Rico against each other.  The Panamanians have qualified for four of the last five FIFA U-20 World Cups.

Mexico won the last CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in 2011, defeating Costa Rica 3-1 in the championship match played  at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.  The Mexicans have made 12 FIFA U-20 World Cup appearances and have won 11 CONCACAF crowns.

Group games will be played February 18 – 23 at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc and the Estadio Universitario in Puebla.  The first- and second-place teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for February 26 – 27.  The four teams that progress to the semifinals, to be played on March 1, will have earned qualification to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The competition will conclude on March 3 with the third-place game and final.

2013 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship

at Puebla, Mexico

FIRST ROUND
Group A: United States, Costa Rica, Haiti
Group B: Canada, Nicaragua, Cuba
Group C: Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico
Group D: Mexico, El Salvador, Curacao

All times US Eastern, local times in parentheses

Monday, February 18 (Estadio Universitario)
Haiti vs. United States, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
Cuba vs. Canada, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, February 19 (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
Puerto Rico vs. Jamaica, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
Mexico vs. Curacao, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, February 20 (Estadio Universitario)
Costa Rica vs. Haiti, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
Nicaragua vs. Cuba, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Thursday, February 21 (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
Panama vs. Puerto Rico, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
El Salvador vs. Curacao, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Friday, February 22 (Estadio Universitario)
United States vs. Costa Rica, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
Canada vs. Nicaragua, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Saturday, February 23 (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
Jamaica vs. Panama, 4:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.)
Mexico vs. El Salvador, 7:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m.)

QUARTERFINALS
(match order subject to change)
Tuesday, February 26 (Estadio Universitario)
QF 1:  Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
QF 2:  Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, February 27 (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
QF 3:  Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
QF 4:  Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

SEMIFINALS
(match order subject to change)
Friday, March 1 (Estadio Universitario)
SF 1:  Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
SF 2: Winner QF3 vs. Winner QF4, 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m.)

THIRD PLACE and FINAL
Sunday, March 3
Third Place (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m.)

Final (Estadio Cuauhtemoc)
Winner SF 1 v Winner SF2, 7:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m.)

About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.