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The road to Finland begins this weekend on Dominica and the Dominican Republic, as Caribbean qualifying kicks off in the Confederation?s Under-17 Junior Tournament. Haiti Under-17 team is seeded in the Group phase of FIFA Under-17 Caribbean Qualifiers (GROUP C: Haiti; Barbados/St. Vincent & Grenadines; Cayman Islands; Republica Dominicana/Puerto Rico). CONCACAF has three spots available for the FIFA Under-17 World Championship, which will be held next summer in the Scandinavian country.

The Caribbean Zone has two places in the Confederation?s final eight, which will be contested in a pair of four-team round-robins next March, in Canada and Guatemala. Zonal qualifying will be done in four groups, with the group winners meeting before the end of the year to determine the Caribbean?s two representatives.

On the heels of their successful four-team international tournament last week, Bermuda is the only country to date which has been confirmed as a group host. Drawn into Group A, the group will also include Trinidad & Tobago, and winner of qualifying series between Saint Lucia and US Virgin Islands and Dominica and Guyana.

?It?s time we identify with Bermuda. Far too often Bermuda has been coming to the Caribbean to take part in competitions but each time we want it to be hosted here, there?s all kinds of discussions about Bermuda being out of the way or too costly,? said Confederation President Jack A. Warner, who attended the final.

?There was a time when Bermuda seemed to have become very insular in its football and its football development and politics. Over the last two or three years there seems to have been a deliberate policy where Bermuda?s football has begun to internationalise itself once more. Things have changed,? Warner added. ?I hope this (management) team can remain in place for some time and develop the sport.?

Bermuda finished fourth in the tournament, losing on penalty kicks to Barbados in the third-place match after a 1:1 draw. The performance of that country also drew praise from President Warner, rebounding in their final match after suffering three losses in group play.

?The commitment of the young players on display assures me of the future of the game in your country," Warner wrote to the Barbados Football Association. "My best wishes to you and your executive for their work in the development of the youth."

CARIBBEAN ZONE QUALIFYING (top two qualify)

PRELIMINARY ROUND (over two legs)

Saint Lucia v US Virgin Islands* (30.08.2002); Saint Lucia v US Virgin Islands (01.09.2002)

Dominica v Guyana (04.08.2002); Guyana v Dominica (18.08.2002)

Antigua & Barbuda v Montserrat ? Montserrat withdrew

St. Kitts & Nevis v Anguilla - Anguilla withdrew

Republica Dominicana v Puerto Rico (04.08.2002); Puerto Rico v Republica Dominicana (18.08.2002)

St. Vincent & Grenadines v Barbados (11.08.2002); Barbados v St. Vincent & Grenadines (26.08.2002)

Suriname v Netherlands Antilles - Netherlands Antilles withdrew

Aruba v British Virgin Islands* (23.08.2002); Aruba v British Virgin Islands (25.08.2002)

GROUP PHASE (league format)

GROUP A: (10.2002): Bermuda, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana/Dominica, Saint Lucia/US Virgin Islands

GROUP B: Jamaica, Grenada; Antigua & Barbuda; St. Kitts and Nevis

GROUP C: Haiti; Barbados/St. Vincent & Grenadines; Cayman Islands; Republica Dominicana/Puerto Rico

GROUP D: Cuba, Bahamas, Suriname, Aruba/British Virgin Islands

FINAL ROUND (over two legs)

winner GROUP A v winner GROUP D

winner GROUP B v winner GROUP C

CENTRAL AMERICAN QUALIFYING (group winners qualify)

Honduras; 11-15.12.2002

GROUP A: Honduras, El Salvador, Belize; GROUP B: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panamá

11.12.2002: Belize v El Salvador; Costa Rica v Panama

13.12.2002: Nicaragua v Panama; Honduras v Belize

15.12.2002: Nicaragua v Costa Rica; Honduras v El Salvador

FC FINAL TOURNAMENTS

Group A: GUATEMALA (09/03/2002): GUATEMALA (host), USA, CENTRAL A winner, CARIBBEAN B/C winner

Group B: CANADA: (30/03/2002): CANADA (host), MEXICO, CENTRAL B winner, CARIBBEAN A/D winner

FIFA UNDER-17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Finland, 30/08/2003)

Source (www.concacaf.com)