World Cup - Qualification CONCACAF

World Cup qualification - CONCACAF (World Cup qualifying) - the regional qualifying competition for national teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean, organised under CONCACAF and FIFA. Regulations: qualifying is played over multiple rounds, an opening round typically involves the lowest-ranked teams in two-legged home-and-away ties, the next round is a group stage played as a single round-robin, group winners and runners-up progress to the final round where 12 teams are drawn into three groups of four and play a home-and-away round-robin, the three group winners qualify directly for the World Cup and the two best second-placed teams advance to the intercontinental play-offs. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, group positions are decided by points, then goal difference and goals scored, if teams are still level the head-to-head criteria apply in points, goal difference and goals scored, then away goals in the head-to-head matches, then the team conduct score based on yellow and red cards, and if required lots are drawn, while in two-legged ties the winner is decided by aggregate score, then extra time in the second leg and, if still level, a penalty shoot-out.