NEW YORK – The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced on Wednesday the schedule of matches for the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying, which begin in June 2012.
The US national team find themselves in Group A as the No.1 seed alongside Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica and Guatemala.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will host Antigua & Barbuda on June 8 in the group opener before looking forward to a trip to play Guatemala four days later on June 12. Those opening games are followed by a double header against second-seeded Jamaica, with the US travelling to the Caribbean on Sept. 7 before hosting the Reggae Boyz on Sept. 11.
The ‘Nats will then travel to Antigua & Barbuda on Oct. 12 before closing out their schedule for the third round of World Cup qualifying on Oct. 14 with a home game against Guatemala. The top two teams from each of the semifinal groups will advance to round four of qualifying – commonly known as the “hexagonal.” The US finished top of that six-team group in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, concluding play one point ahead of rivals Mexico.
The nations that finish in the top three from the “hex" in round four qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The fourth-place team faces a playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.
Times and locations for all matches will be confirmed at a later date.
Full CONCACAF Groups:
Group A
United States
Jamaica
Guatemala
Antigua & Barbuda
Group B
Mexico
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guyana
Group C
Honduras
Cuba
Canada
Panama
US National Team fixtures:
Friday, June 8, 2012 – United States vs. Antigua & Barbuda
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 – Guatemala vs. United States
Friday, September 7, 2012 – Jamaica vs. United States
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 – United States vs. Jamaica
Friday, October 12, 2012 – Antigua & Barbuda vs. United States
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – United States vs. Guatemala
