Courtesy: CONCACAF.com

2004 CONCACAF FUTSAL QUALIFYING

NORTH/CENTRAL FUTSAL PRELIMINARY SERIES TO BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS

The 2004 CONCACAF Preliminary Futsal Series between the North Zone and UNCAF (Unión Centroamericana de Fútbol) will begin in two weeks.

The CONCACAF Futsal Qualification Preliminaries has three UNCAF nations (El Salvador, Honduras, Panama) meeting three North Zone teams (Canada, Mexico, USA) in three pairings. Each series will play two-games in a single venue.

The three North/Central Preliminary Series winners will advance to the 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Final Round Qualification in July, along with Cuba, three more qualifiers from the Caribbean Football Union Tournament (Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago) and the host, Costa Rica.

The eight-team CONCACAF Final Round will qualify two nations to the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship, to be held in Chinese Taipei from 21 November - 5 December.

COSTA RICA TO HOST A PAIR OF FRIENDLIES AGAINST PANAMA

Costa Rica will host Central American rival Panama in a pair of friendlies at the Palacio de los Deportes in Herédia on 7 and 8 May.
The ticos, with Carlos Quiros at the helm, are looking to defend their CONCACAF Futsal Championship, won four years ago, as they host the Confederation's Final Round of Qualification in July, while the canaleros, under newly appointed technical director Marcos Babau Assumpçao Carneiro, begin their preparations ahead of the CONCACAF Futsal North/Central Preliminary Series as they greet Canada at the Gimnasio Roberto Durán in Ciudad de Panamá on 21 and 22 May.

MEXICO GOES WINLESS IN TWO FRIENDLIES AGAINST CUBA

Mexico traveled to La Habana, Cuba and went winless in two friendlies against the host at the Polideportivo Kid Chocolate from 1-2 May.

After a 2:2 draw in the first match on 1 May, the cubanos defeated the tricolor 4:2 in the second encounter the next day.

Mexico are in preparations for the 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Preliminary Series against El Salvador on 20 and 22 May in Pachuca, Hidalgo, while Cuba will greet Trinidad & Tobago in friendly on 20 May in La Habana.