CONCACAF unveiled the schedule for the 2012 Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Thursday, revealing that the decisive semifinal round will kick off at 5:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 31st at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas between the winner of Group B and the runner-up in Group A. The second match of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. CT between the winner of Group A and the runner-up in Group B.
The two semifinal winners will qualify as the region's representatives in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and will meet in the championship match at 7:00 p.m. CT on Monday, April 2nd.
Ticket information for both match dates at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park will be announced later this month. The tournament will be broadcast by Universal Sports (English) and Telemundo (Spanish).
Group A will begin play in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, March 22, with Group B in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson to follow the next day. The groups will alternate play for the next four days, with the United States taking on northern neighbor Canada on March 24 and Mexico clashing with defending champion Honduras on March 25.
The host United States will be seeking a seventh trip to the Olympics in eight tries while Mexico will be looking to qualify for a fourth time in six tries. Honduras is looking for a third berth in the Olympics after first qualifying in 2000.
El Salvador, Panama and Trinidad have never qualified while Canada's last appearance in the Olympics came in 1984, four years after Cuba's last appearance.
CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Finals
FIRST ROUND
All times U.S. Eastern (local times in parentheses)
Group A (Nashville, Tennessee): Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, United States
Group B (Carson, California): Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago
Thursday, March 22
At Nashville, Tennessee
El Salvador vs. Canada, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
United States vs. Cuba, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Friday, March 23
At Carson, California
Honduras vs. Panama, 9 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico, 11:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 24
At Nashville, Tennessee
Cuba vs. El Salvador, 4:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.)
United States vs. Canada, 7 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Sunday, March 25
At Carson, California
Panama vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 4:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)
Mexico vs. Honduras, 7 p.m. (4 p.m.)
Monday, March 26
At Nashville, Tennessee
Canada vs. Cuba, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
United States vs. El Salvador, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 27
At Carson, California
Honduras vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 9 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Mexico vs. Panama, 11:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m.)
SEMIFINALS
Saturday, March 31
At Kansas City, Kansas
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, April 2
At Kansas City, Kansas
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m. (7 p.m.)
