MIAMI, Florida (CMC) — The Cayman Islands has been chosen as the venue for the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 football competition, officials announced yesterday.

The competition will include eight teams from across the region vying for the three spots in the 2014 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, to be played in Canada, in July of that same year.

The three qualifying teams will join a fourth CONCACAF nation, Canada, which automatically qualifies as host of the World Cup.

“We are proud to witness the continued growth of the sport inclusive of both genders in our Confederation, traditionally among the strongest in the world in the women’s game,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

“The CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Cayman Islands and the upcoming World Cup in Canada will give us yet another opportunity to showcase these advances on the world stage,” the Caymanian added.

The regional championship kicks off on January 9 and concludes with the third-place match and final on January 19.

The host Cayman Islands will be joined by three-time confederation champion the United States and 2010 runner-up Mexico, as well as teams from the Caribbean and Central America yet to be determined.