By RYAN TOLMICH
The U.S. Men’s Olympic Team now knows the path towards Olympic qualification.
In Tuesday’s draw, the U.S. was matched with Cuba, Canada and Panama in Group A of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying.
The U.S. will be looking to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 2008 after missing out on the 2012 games due to a third-place group stage finish behind El Salvador and Canada.
To kick off qualifying, the U.S. will start off against Canada on October 1 at Sporting Park, while the matches against Cuba and Panama will occur on October 3 and 6 at Sporting Park and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, respectively.
CONCACAF Olympic qualifying awards two-and-a-half spots to the Olympics, with the finalists advancing directly to next summer’s games in Rio de Janeiro while the tournament’s third-place team will meet Colombia in a one-game playoff.
Here is a closer look at the complete schedule for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying group stages:
GROUP A
October 1 (Sporting Park)
Panama vs. Cuba
U.S. vs. Canada
October 3 (Sporting Park)
Canada vs. Panama
Cuba vs. U.S.
October 6 (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
Canada vs. Cuba
U.S. vs. Panama
GROUP B
October 2 ( StubHub Center)
Honduras vs. Haiti
Mexico vs. TBD
October 4 (StubHub Center)
TBD vs. Honduras
Haiti vs. Mexico
October 7 ( Dick’s Sporting Goods)
TBD vs. Haiti
Mexico vs. Honduras
KNOCKOUT STAGES
October 10 (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Winner Group A vs. Runner-Up Group B
Winner Group B vs. Runner-Up Group A
October 13 (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Loser Semifinal 1 vs. Loser Semifinal 2
Winner Semifinal 1 vs. Winner Semifinal 2
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What do you think of the U.S. draw? Who do you see as favorites?
Share your thoughts below.
How can you be “paired” with three other teams?
lol
Isn’t October 10 the same date as the playoff match vs. Mexico?
Yes, it is the same date, because the CONCACAF geniuses moved the game to the same data as the Olympic Qualifiers. A better approach would be to move the game to late October after the Olympic qualifiers are over. But one positive is that Mexico is still without a coach.
Who is the coach? Is it Ramos? Let’s hope JK doesnt make this tournament a priority like the Gold Cup or it will be 3 misses in a row. Also, aren’t we allowed one overage player for this? If so, I wonder who that would be?
I believe we are allowed three overage players for the Olympics themselves, but not during qualifying. At least that is how it has been in the past.
Nice, the first knockout game is on October 10th, which we should be there.
That is going to be a hell of a day of soccer. Hopefully, the game will be televised.
Crap, I forgot Olympic qualifying was in October. This will effect the full squad selection for Mexico.
Certainly makes things interesting.
Really we are only talking about JAB and Yedlin. Both will be included in the full side for Mexico.
I wonder if we see any U-20’s called up. Players like Rubin, CCV, Hyndman, Miazga and Zelalem(If Rangers will release him) could make a push for the qualifying roster.
Morris maybe too in terms of a guy who might be on the full team?
I’d say he’s better used with the U-23s. But I’m not the coach.
We should definitely see a few U-20s called up. I’d expect 3-4 of the 5 you mention plus Steffen (depending on his club).
i would expect a lot of the U20 WC team to be on this roster, all depending on how many outside of the USA & Mexico get called in. The first two group games are outside of a FIFA break so would AH negotiate some players like Rubin and Green to arrive early, or do they arrive for the last group stage game and the ko rounds? if its the later, it would probably be a more MLS/LigaMX heavy roster.
Couldn’t have asked for an easier group. Still going to have win the first knockout game though.
That is what Caleb Porter probably said the last time out.
We all saw what happened next.
Will these games be on TV?