A total of 16 CONCACAF

CONCACAF

The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...

 teams entered the competition. However, FIFA

FIFA

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...

 rejected the entry of due to debts to FIFA.

There would be two rounds of play:

• First Round: , , , United States
  United States men's national soccer team
  The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
  
   and , the five best ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the Second Round directly. The remaining 10 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the Second Round.
• Second Round: The 10 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the tournament.

CONCACAF First Round

Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the Second Round, 5–0 on aggregate score.
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Guatemala advanced to the Second Round, 2–1 on aggregate score.
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Jamaica advanced to the Second Round, 3–1 on aggregate score.
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Netherlands Antilles advanced to the Second Round, 4–1 on aggregate score.
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Costa Rica advanced to the Second Round, 3–1 on aggregate score.

CONCACAF Second Round

El Salvador qualified, 6–0 on aggregate score.
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United States qualified, 5–1 on aggregate score.
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The aggregate score was tied at 1–1, however Trinidad and Tobago qualified on away goals

Away goals rule

The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...

.
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Mexico was disqualified for fielding over-aged players in a youth tournament, so Costa Rica qualified automatically.
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The aggregate score was tied at 3–3, however Guatemala qualified on away goals

Away goals rule

The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...

.