February 16 – The US will host the 2016 Olympic qualifying competition for the CONCACAF region this October 1-13. Eight teams will battle for two automatic qualification spots and a play-off against Colombia for a further entry to the Rio 2016 games.
“We are looking forward to hosting the Olympic Qualifying Championship and showcasing the quality of soccer in the region,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “The Olympics hold a special place in the hearts of all Americans and this is a great opportunity to see these young athletes from across North, Central America and the Caribbean compete for the opportunity to reach their goal of playing in the Olympic Games.”
The 16-team Olympic competition is played by U23 teams. Mexico won the Olympic gold in 2012 in London, defeating Brazil in the final.
The October tournament will be played by the US, Canada and Mexico plus three nations from the Central American region and two from the Caribbean – qualifiers in those regions to be played in the coming months.
“The Olympic Qualifying Championship provides an ideal stage for CONCACAF nations to demonstrate the bright future the Confederation holds on the field,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.
The qualification tournament will see the eight nations divided into two groups of four, with the top two in each group going though to semi-finals. The host cities for the qualifiers are still to be announced.
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