[DATEBOOK] Like it often has through the years, qualifying for the World Cup begins in Concacaf. This time, it begins very early. The 10 lowest ranked teams in the region square off in two-leg series on June 3 and 7.

CONCACAF PLAY-IN
Montserrat vs. Belize
Anguilla vs. Dominican Republic
U.S. Virgin Islands vs. British Virgin Islands
Aruba vs. St. Lucia
Bahamas vs. Turks and Caicos

Twenty-four Concacaf countries -- the 19 top-ranked teams, including World Cup 2010 finalists USA, Mexico and Honduras, and the five play-in survivors -- will then be drawn when FIFA will conduct the World Cup 2014 qualifying draw July 30 in Rio de Janeiro.

The six 2009 Hexagonal teams -- USA, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago -- are expected to receive byes to the semifinal round, meaning the five play-in winners and 13 other Concacaf entrants would meet in a format to be announced to determine the other six semifinalists.