Trinidad and Tobago's senior women footballers begin their attempt to qualify for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany when they take on Canada in their opening CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying match on Friday October 29 in in Cancun, Mexico.
CONCACAF released the draw for the tournament on Friday. The qualifying tournament runs from October 28-November 8 in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Along with crowning the eighth CONCACAF women's champions, two countries from the eight-team event will qualify directly for next year's Women's World Cup (June 26-July 17). And the third-place CONCACAF finisher will advance to a playoff against Europe's fifth-best team for a berth in Germany.
Hosts Mexico begin their campaign against first-time final round qualifiers Guyana on October 29, followed by Trinidad and Tobago on October 31 and Canada on November 2.
T&T national women's head coach Jamaal Shabazz said the fixtures offered no surprises.
"It is what we expected. As hosts I expected Mexico to play Guyana first," Shabazz declared yesterday. "Now that the fixtures have been released, it gives us enough time to plan to get a result against Canada, who are a traditionally superior opponent.
The staff has to sit down and discuss what approach we will take. As we get closer to the competition, we will look at the final squad we select, and what approach we can take."
Trinidad and Tobago have never beaten Canada at senior level. However, the Soca Princesses beat Mexico 3-1 (1991) and drew two other matches 3-3 (1994) and 2-2 (1998) with the Mexicans.
Mexico have won the last two meetings 2-0 (2002) and 3-0 (2006), including the CONCACAF tournament four years ago in the United States, where an under-prepared T&T team had just one day's training before the tournament and played very well, but were hit several times on the counter-attack.
For the first time in many years, Trinidad and Tobago will be able to gather their players early and prepare well for the tournament. Shabazz feels that the Soca Princesses are now able to compete strongly with both Canada and Mexico.
"If we can get Maylee Attin-Johnson, Tasha St Louis and Kennya (Cordner) up to full fitness, our approach we might take may be very different to what is expected," he said.
2010 CONCACAF WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Group A: Canada, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana
Group B: United States, Costa Rica, Haiti, Guatemala
Thursday, October 28 (At Playa del Carmen)
Costa Rica vs Guatemala, 6 p.m.
United States vs Haiti, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, October 29 At Cancun
Trinidad & Tobago vs Canada, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs Guyana, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 30 At Playa del Carmen
Haiti vs Costa Rica, 6 p.m.
United States vs Guatemala, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 31 (At Cancun)
Canada vs Guyana, 7 p.m.
Mexico vs Trinidad & Tobago, 9:30 p.m.
Monday, November 1 (At Playa del Carmen)
Guatemala vs Haiti, 7 p.m.
United States vs Costa Rica, 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 2 (At Cancun)
Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago, 7 p.m.
Mexico vs. Canada, 9:30 p.m.
SEMI-FINALS
Friday, November 5 (At Cancun)
Group A winner vs Group B runner-up, 7 p.m.
Group B winner vs Group A runner-up, 10 p.m.
FINALS
Monday, November 8 (At Cancun)
Third-Place–Semifinal losers, 6 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP–Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
(All Times US Eastern)