Canadian Soccer
DURBAN, South Africa – Canada was drawn Sunday to play against St. Vincent and Grenadines in its first World Cup qualifier in June.
The teams are each in Group 2.
Meanhwhile, the United States was drawn to play either Dominica or Barbados in its first game and could face Cuba in its regional semifinals group.
The Americans have an automatic bye into the CONCACAF second round for the 2010 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa.
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Also receiving byes to the second round in the Americans semifinal group were Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Cuba will play the winner of the Aruba-Antigua and Barbuda opening series; Guatemala gets the winner of the Turks and Caicos Islands-St. Lucia series; and Trinidad and Tobago will face the winner of Bermuda-Cayman Islands opening round.
"There is no easy draw as players and teams continue to improve," said U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who helped in the draw in this South African port city.
Keller said that given that the goal was to qualify for this "most historic World Cup … the motivation is there for our players to make sure we grasp that with both hands."
Mexico, another seeded team in the CONCACAF region, will face the winner of Belize and St. Kitts and Nevis in Group 2.
Costa Rica, the third seeded team after the United States and Mexico, faces the winner of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Grenada in Group 3.
Source: Canada to face Grenadines in WC qualifier
