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ESPN staff 9y

U.S. face Canada, Cuba, Panama in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying

The United States will face Canada, Cuba and Panama in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in October.

Mexico, which won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, will face Honduras, Haiti, and the winner of a playoff between Costa Rica and Guatemala in the other group.

The top two teams from each will qualify for the knockout stage, where the semifinal winners will earn a berth in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The winner of a third-place game will advance to a final playoff against Colombia in March.

The U.S. opens the competition with two games in Kansas City, Kansas, against Canada on Oct. 1 followed by Cuba on Oct. 3. The Americans then move to Commerce City, Colorado, on Oct. 6 to face Panama.

Mexico begins in Carson, California, against the Costa Rica-Guatemala winner on Oct. 2, followed by Haiti on Oct. 4. El Tri finishes the group stage against Honduras in Colorado.

The knockout round will take place in Sandy, Utah, with the semifinals on Oct. 10 and the final and third-place game on Oct. 13.

Costa Rica and Guatemala will play a two-legged playoff to determine the last team in Group B. Costa Rica hosts the first leg on Wednesday, with the second leg in Guatemala on Sunday.

The qualifying tournament is an under-23 competition, and teams can add a maximum of three overage players for next year's Olympics.

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