Saturday the 2016 Scotia Bank CFU Caribbean Cup was officially launched with the draw of the teams. The CFU Caribbean Cup is composed of 3 preliminary rounds to be played, all, on dates of the International Football Federation (FIFA), before reaching the final stage.

The first round will be held from March 21 to 29, 2016, the 2nd round from 15 to 21 May 2016 and the third will take place from 3 to 11 October 2016. The final phase will take place from 18 to 24 May 2017.

It is important to note that in view of their FIFA ranking, the selections of Haiti, Trinidad and Jamaica will make their entry onto the scene in the 3rd round, unlike Cuba, which will start in the first round against the difficult teams of Bermuda and French Guiana.

Note that groups are composed of three teams and unlike previous editions, the preliminary rounds will be held over two games, back and forth, in to avoid the holding of 3 encounters during a FIFA period. The finals of the Nations Cup of the Caribbean 2017 will be played with only 4 teams; these will be the winners of Groups 4 the 3rd round. The latter will be automatically qualified for the 2017 Gold Cup.

Haiti, which is in Group 2, will be joined in the third round by the 3rd best runner-up from rd 2 and 4th group winner from rd 2.

BF/ HaitiLibre