The qualifying competition was to take place in March 2016. It has been brought forward to August/September 2015 (presumably to make the most of the FIFA calendar. Clubs may be more obliging if there are no fixtures on). I don't yet know if CAN, MEX and USA receive a bye to the final rounds of the qualifying tournament as usual or if there have been a change to the format. There's usually a Caribbean and Central American stage beforehand but nothing has yet been announced.
Round 3 of World Cup Qualifying is in September. I hope they don't play World Cup qualifiers and Olympic Qualifiers at the same time. Has the site been announced?
Not yet. I imagine it'll be soon as the qualifying tournament for the qualifying tournament will need to start soon!
Apparently CONCACAF has earned a half bid, with the 3rd place finisher getting a chance at the 2nd place South American team
Thank you, Mexico. I'm excited for olympic football. Can't speak for other youth systems (although they seem to be doing pretty well also), but I think Mexico's pool of players will be even better than last time (considering the main difference makers from 2012 could play as overage players anyway). Maybe some US and Costa Rica fans could post some details on their probable squads for the qualifiers.
Crazy that CONCACAF gets the same amount of spots as CONMEBOL. Our squad for qualifying might be very different from our squad if we get to the Olympics. The European-based players with first teams are unlikely to be available for qualifying, and the European clubs don't have to release the players in their academies, from what I understand. Our qualifying team if we don't get any of the European-based players looks like it'll be weak at CF, LB, GK and potentially very young at CB. We should be good at RB, CM positions, wingers and AM's. Our team if we make it to the Olympics could be weak at LB, but besides that, I think the team is looking good.
As for our roster and lineup, in our Youth National Team board, I said this: For qualifying assuming no European-based players, GK: Alex Bono, Jon Kempin RB: Kellyn Acosta, Marco Delgado CB: Shane O'Neill, Erik Palmer-Brown, Tommy Redding, Tim Parker LB: Eric Miller DM/CM: Wil Trapp, Nick Besler, Marlon Hairston, Alejandro Guido AM/Wing: Luis Gil, Dillon Serna, Paul Arriola, Tommy Thompson, Amando Moreno CF: Khiry Shelton, Omar Salgado 4-4-2 Diamond: GK: Alex Bono RB: Kellyn Acosta CB: Erik Palmer-Brown CB: Shane O'Neill LB: Eric Miller DM: Nick Besler LCM: Wil Trapp(C) RCM: Alejandro Guido CAM: Luis Gil SS: Paul Arriola CF: Khiry Shelton And just for fun I'll make a team for if we get there not including the overage players: GK: Zack Steffen, Alex Bono RB: DeAndre Yedlin, Kellyn Acosta CB: John Brooks, Shane O'Neill, Erik Palmer-Brown LB: Eric Miller DM/CM: Wil Trapp, Nick Besler, Emerson Hyndman, Marc Pelosi AM/Wing: Luis Gil, Junior Flores, Julian Green, Paul Arriola CF: Rubio Rubin, Khiry Shelton GK: Zack Steffen RB: DeAndre Yedlin CB: Shane O'Neill CB: John Brooks LB: Eric Miller DM: Wil Trapp(C) DM: Marc Pelosi LM: Julian Green RM: Junior Flores CAM: Luis Gil CF: Rubio Rubin
My Starting 11 during COCACAF qualifying. GK: Richard Sanchez RB: Pizarro CB: Carlos Salcedo CB: Jordan Silva LB: K. Gutierrez CM: Esperiqueta CM: Erick Gutierrez RM: Lozano LM: A. Gonzalez ST: Zúñiga ST: Cubo Torres My starting 11 if we qualify. With European Players +3 Overage players... GK: Raul Gudiño RM: Pizzaro CB: Carlos Salcedo CB: Héctor Moreno(C) LB: Miguel Layun CM: Erick Gutierrez CM: Arturo González RM: Lozano LM: Corona ST: Carlos Vela ST: Cubo Torres
I think Abella and Van Rankin are ahead of Pizzaro for that RB spot. Pizzaro is playing CM right now for Pachuca and I guess that's his natural position. We could possibly see a midfield of Pizzaro and possibly Gutierrez if Espericueta is still stuck with U20's by then. I think we'll have a much more competitive squad this upcoming year. Hopefully, a couple guys emerge out of nowhere, just like Herrera, Aquino and Jimenez did last time around. GK: Richard Sanchez, Gonzalez(from U20) RB: Abella, Van Rankin CB: Carlos Salcedo, Briseno CB: Jordan Silva, Marin LB: K. Gutierrez, ? CM: Pizzaro, Espericueta CM: Erick Gutierrez, Aguirre RM: Lozano, Lopez LM: A. Gonzalez, Escoboza ST: Zúñiga, Diaz ST: Cubo Torres, Madrigal
Hasn't been announced yet. They didn't announce the host last time until about 4 months before the tourney
Is there a 'possibility list'? Like countries that haven't had a tourney this year That can host it? Say like Panama and Guatemala, anywhere else?
This tournament has never been outside of North America, and it's been in the US for the last 2 editions. Even though the stadiums were relatively empty last time around, it still drew about 7-15K fans per game. For that reason it wouldn't stun to me to see the US get again with MLS stadiums hosting. That's pure speculation by me though. I haven't heard any news whatsoever on the matter
http://laestrella.com.pa/deportes/futbol/panama-sera-sedes-torneo-23-uncaf/23823604 This is what I could find. So basically the UNCAF qualifiers will be held in Panama and Guatemala
Arg qualified directly and Colombia will be the playoff team. It may be worth noting that Conmebol uses it U20 qualifiers as it Oly qualifiers also, top 4 to U20, top 2 (this time 1.5) to Olympics. So the team Concacaf sees in the playoff may be VERY different than the one Colombia used in qualifying due to the extra 3 years of age they can now included. A possible lack of familiarity for the Colombia team may work to Concacaf's advantage in the playoff. For whomever plays them, it will be a very tough challenge. I assume the 3 overage players are not allowed in this playoff. Imagine Colombia bringing in James R, Cuadrado, and Falcao. Also the answer to the question of the most difficult qualifying in the world is South American Olympic qualifiers, only 2 places for the Confed that basically dominates youth futbol.
Assuming Mexico qualifies, do you think they would bring any players to the Olympics who have already one the gold or use completely new players, either U-23 or as an overage?
I don't know, it depends really on the coach and what the team is weak on when it comes to choosing the overage players. However, I don't think that the players will be picked based on whether they were on squad that won the gold medal or not. I agree, with Richy_Rich on the three overage players.