Groups set for U.S. World Cup qualifying

CHICAGO, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. women's soccer team will be in a group with Costa Rica, Guatemala and Haiti in a World Cup qualifying tournament.

The U.S. team heads Group B of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2011 World Cup in Germany. Group A teams are Canada, Guyana, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament is set for Oct. 28-Nov. 8 in Mexico, organizers said.

The top finishers on each group will qualify for the World Cup while the tournament's third-place team will have a home-and-home series against a European team for a chance at another World Cup slot.

The United States has won all four previous CONCACAF qualifying tournaments, beating Canada in the finals each time.

The Americans are ranked No. 1 in the world in a list issued Friday by FIFA. Canada is ranked 13th and Mexico is the next highest in the field at No. 22.

The 16-team women's World Cup will be contested June 26-July 17, 2011, in Germany. Germany is the tournament's defending champion.