2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup
Caribbean contenders going for Gold
(FIFA.com) 03 May 2006
Leo Beenhakker's Soca Warriors might be carrying the hopes of the Caribbean at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany?, but the region's women still have it all to play for in the race to reach China 2007.
In this part of the world, the question of who makes it will be decided through the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, a six-team event from which the two finalists qualify directly for the Women's World Cup and the third-placed side proceed to a play-off against an Asian opponent for the final berth.
The incentive, therefore, could hardly be greater as the Caribbean sides prepare to do battle for the right to lock horns with their Northern and Central American neighbours at November's USA-held Gold Cup.
Two places are up for grabs, and the first round of action will take place between 3 and 8 May, when the Dominican Republic stage Group A - comprised by Bermuda, Turks & Caicos Islands and US Virgin Islands - this at the same time as
Haiti, Netherlands Antilles and Surinam take on their hosts, Aruba, in Groub B.
USA and Canada await
Then all eyes will turn to Jamaica, who're staging Group C between 8 and 12 May, playing host to Antigua and Barbua, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia.
Finally, it will be the turn of the female Soca Warriors, who from 19 to 23 May will round off this round of qualifying in Group D, which T&T help make up with Dominica, Grenada and St. Vincent and The Grenadines.
The four group-winners will later be whittled down to two qualifiers, who will join Canada and the hosts, USA, along with two teams from Mexico and Central America at the 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup in November.
The qualifying format for Mexico and five Central American teams is composed of two triangular groups hosted by Mexico and Panama from 10-14 and 24-28 May respectively.