Top Stories

Nashville, Carson, Kansas City to host CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers

CONCACAF

Feel free to begin making your plans to catch the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

CONCACAF announced that the tournament will take place at three sites in the United States starting in late March, with eight teams vying for two spots at the 2012 Olympics in London. So far, the United States, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama have qualified for the tournament.

Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., will host the semifinals of the tournament on March 31, with the winners not only moving on to the April 2 final (which will also be played in Kansas City), but also cementing berths at the Summer Olympics.

Prior to that, one group will play its games at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., on March 22, 24 and 26. The other will play its games at the Home Depot center in Carson, Calif., on March 23, 25 and 27, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

What do you think about the site choices? Planning on going to the games? Excited that Kansas City will be hosting the final?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Oh man! You’re right… funny how I forgot that… it was Mexico that slipped up and we had to beat them in a Concacaf semi-final or so to make it. I guess I was crossing that with the last youth world cup qualifying I was thinking of. The point remains, it can happen, as it happened to Mexico.

    Reply
  2. Qualifying tournament is ran by CONCACAF hence it is a FIFA “lite” tournament. Money is everything…Mexico in LA, US in Nashville, that is a lock. And I hate that because I’m in LA.

    Reply
  3. No excuses USA, you better qualify on your home turf. It’s still sad that we host every international regional tournament. If Mexico can host a world cup, why can’t they host Olympic qualifying?

    Reply
  4. Hopefully this decision, rewarding KC with high-profile games, serves notice to teams without a stadium. Get one built and the USSF will reward you

    Reply
  5. When will they announce what teams will play where. I hope the US plays in LA! I would love to see the potential olympic team up close.

    Reply
  6. Harsh much? They lost one game to Guatemala in Guatemala. Yeah they should’ve won but these qualifying tournaments are rough when it all comes down to one game.

    Reply
  7. Wow. Even tougher qualifying than the WC. Only 2 spots, with Mexico looming in there.

    One upset by any team not named Mexico could really jack up the whole thing for the US.

    On the bright side, all the U20 guys (aka THE MOST TALENTED U20/U23s THE US HAS EVER HAD, as we are constantly told) will have the chance to pull a massive choke job in another qualifying tourney.

    Reply
  8. I would figure the better money making scenario would be Mexico in Carson and US in Nashville… but I think Olympics are less about money than FIFA, as is everything on the planet.

    Reply
  9. I feel the same way… My family’s in Nashville, so I could double up on the airfare.

    Regardless, I think (not 100% sure) the Gold Cup is the only tournament where they allocate teams based on potential revenue. I don’t think there’s any guarantee where the USMNT is playing quite yet.

    Reply
  10. That stadium is so freakin’ sweet. I took my son on the tour, that thing lasted two hours, they took us on the field, in the dressing room, in the owner’s luxury box (with his 200 bottle wine collection), in Lance Armstrongs chair, in the press row, the players’ smoothie bar, the fan’s sushi bar, I mean freakin’ everywhere.

    Reply
  11. Very glad Nashville is hosting some games… but I will only go if the US is playing there.

    Does anyone know, do they keep the same four teams at the same stadium, or is there a chance the US could play in both Nashville and Carson?

    Reply

Leave a Comment