OLYMPICS: U.S. women receive bye to final round of qualifying

CONCACAF's executive committee also approved the format for both the womenÆs qualifying tournaments to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

The womenÆs tournament will have 17 entrants. The United States, silver medalist at Sydney 2000, Canada and host Mexico advance to the final round. The remaining 14 teams will be divided into four groups of three teams apiece and one group of two teams. The five group winners complete the entrants in the eight-team final round.

The two group winners advance to Athens.

GROUP A

Canada

Mexico

Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Dominica winner

Jamaica, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands winner

GROUP B

USA

Haiti-Puerto Rico winner

Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras winner

Panama, Belize, Guatemala winner