PANAMA CITY, Panama — Defending Under-17 World Cup champions Mexico will face Honduras and Cuba, while host Panama will meet Barbados and Jamaica in the first round of the 2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship.

The tournament draw, which was held yesterday and conducted by CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz at the Hotel Sheraton Panama, determined the first-round opponents for the April 6-19 event.

Host Panama and Mexico, by virtue of their 2011 World Cup finish, were pre-seeded into Groups A and D, respectively.

“We are very excited about this tournament, which will showcase the next generation of our Confederation’s upcoming talent,” said CONCACAF President, Jeffrey Webb during his opening speech.

“We wish the best of luck to all the qualified teams and hope one of the four teams representing our region at the World Cup will retain the title of world champion.”

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, the winners of which will qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, October 17 to November 8.

It will be the first time Panama has staged the CONCACAF finals and the first time a 12-team CONCACAF Under-17 tournament will be held in Central America since 1994 in El Salvador.

All tournament matches will be held at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, and the Estadio Agustin ‘Muquita’ Sanchez in La Chorrera.

Mexico have won the CONCACAF Under-17 title a record four times, while defending champion United States has captured the crown on three occasions.

2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship

April 6-19, 2013 at Panama (Panama City & La Chorrera)

FIRST ROUND GROUPS

Group A: Panama, Barbados, Jamaica

Group B: Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago

Group C: United States, Guatemala, Haiti

Group D: Mexico, Honduras, Cuba