SoccerAmerica - U.S. group to include Jamaica 07/30/2011

[WORLD CUP 2014 DRAW] The USA was placed in a semifinal group with Jamaica and the winners of two second-round groups that will play this fall in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Concacaf will send its top three teams to Brazil, and the fourth-place team in the final round known as the Hexagonal will face the Oceania champion in a playoff. For the Concacaf draw ...

SECOND ROUND
(Sept. 2-Nov. 15, 2011)
Group A: El Salvador, Suriname, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic.
Group B: Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Bermuda.
Group C: Panama, Dominica, Nicaragua, Bahamas.
Group D: Canada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia
Group E: Grenada, Guatemala, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Belize
Group F: Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda, Curacao, U.S. Virgin Islands.

SEMIFINAL ROUND:
(June 8-Oct. 16, 2012)
Group A: USA, Jamaica, Winner E (Second Round), Winner F (Second Round)
Group B: Mexico, Costa Rica, Winner A (Second Round), Winner B (Second Round)
Group C: Honduras, Cuba, Winner D (Second Round), Winner C (Second Round)

FINAL ROUND:
(Feb. 6 – Oct. 15, 2013)
Three group winners and runners-up from Semifinal Round comprise a group of six teams.
(The top three teams qualify for the 2014 World Cup with the fourth-place team advancing to the intercontinental playoff against a team from Oceania.)

6 comments

Carlos Thys

commented on: July 30, 2011 at 11:10 p.m.

This has to be the easiest "road to a World Cup" for the USA in a long, long time. It would take a total men's national team collapse to not qualify. Without a Gold Cup or some other meaningful national team tournament, this is bad. The team will go "soft" just because there are not "games that matter." Friendlies, even versus teams like Germany, the Netherlands, Uruguay, or South Korea, won't matter -- because they'll just be one-off friendlies. I would much rather see the previous qualifying methods that had us playing Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador home & away (with the top 3 earning their finals berths). Also: Note how the door is open quite wide and generously for Canada this time round. Canada, are you paying attention? This is your golden opportunity.

Luis Arreola

commented on: July 31, 2011 at 4:32 p.m.

Something is wrong when Cuba gets a first round bye. This makes no sense. I feel bad for El Salvador who along with Panama deserved the 1st round bye because in the 2nd round have to go vs Mexico and Costa Ricardo witch will be toughest group of all. That's good for Mexico even though Mexico. Cpncacaf teams are getting better. USA should be wary of Jamaica and Guatemala, 2 mentally tough teams. I think this round system will give USA and Mexico some needed pressure as it gives the smaller countries a better chance to take em out. Canada will lose to Panama and Honduras.

Paolo Jacobs

commented on: August 1, 2011 at 6:38 a.m.

Agreed Luis, crazy Cuba got a bye,, certianly Honduras or Panama deserved one over that lightweight....and Yes, the US on paper, got off easy in this draw

Paolo Jacobs

commented on: August 1, 2011 at 6:41 a.m.

Plus Concacaf got real lucky to draw Oceania champ( obivously New Zealand) in the playoff slot,, so it looks promising 4 Concacaf teams will make Brasil in 14 ( hopefully one of those slots is EEUU!)

Simon Provan

commented on: August 1, 2011 at 8:19 a.m.

Carlos, the US, assuming they make it to final round, also known as "The Hex," will still have to play the home and away schedule. That has not changed. Not quite sure what your comment pertains to. The only change is that the US does not have to play a home and away series with one of the minnows. The Hex is still on, so you can expect to see the US play the likes of Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica and perhaps Jamaica in the home and away series Feb. 6 through October 13. I also don't see how this makes things any easier for Canada. Yes, they have an open door to make it to the Hex, but I don't see how they have it any easier once they get there.

peter Gerald

commented on: August 1, 2011 at 9 a.m.

Carlos This... That the samething as last world cup. Just think about the FINAL ROUND.

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