Qualifying for major international tournaments has been a tougher challenge than expected for U.S. youth teams over the last year, and that quest won't get any easier in 2013, as qualification for two youth World Cups will take place on foreign soil.
Mexico and Panama have been selected to host the 2013 CONCACAF Under-20 and Under-17 championships, respectively. The U-20 tournament will be held in Puebla from Feb. 18 to March 3, with the four teams that make it to the semifinal round qualifying for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. The U.S. U-20s failed to qualify for the 2011 U-20 World Cup after falling in the quarterfinal round to tournament host Guatemala. The current batch of U-20s are presently in a training camp in Portland, Ore., led by coach Tab Ramos.
The U-17 tournament will take place in Panama City from April 6-19, with the four semifinalists making it to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
What do you think of these developments?
Share your thoughts below.
they can still defect and become Cuban-Mexicans or Cuba-Panamanians.. good luck with that.
cuban defection=Fail
Feel bad for all those young Cuban players that had that had their hotel escape plans all laid out.
Thats cool. The U-17’s already look like a really talented team. Haven’t seen much of this next cycle of U-20’s. Tab Ramos will have those guys prepared and ready to role. This cycle of U-20’s will be referred to as Luis Gil’s team.
Panama does have one good stadium that has hosted some decent international sides and an all star team that included Messi. I am not sure if they will host the full tournament there though.
Any MLS names I know on the U-20 roster?
I agree. However, while I am confident that Mexico is capable to be a very good host country and provide good quality fields, I am less confident in Panama’s ability to do the same. Hopefully, Panama will be able to put everything together well.
Agreed! Although I know they don’t have the infrastructure to host it, it would be nice to see the Gold Cup move around CONCACAF.
At the very least, Canada could do it, right?!
(I KNOW, I KNOW, it’s all about money and this tournament makes the most money in the US where every team in CONCACAF has a base of support in the various ethnic communities)
USA should play plenty of tough teams before the tournament to make them tough physically and MENTALLY.
US will lose in the quarterfinals to Panama and Mexico respectively.
Its good for the region that tournaments are being hosted outside the usa