20 players named to U.S. roster for CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying in Mexico

Twenty U.S. players have earned a trip to Cancun -- for CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying. The tournament runs Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. Two nations will advance directly to next summer's World Cup in Germany, while a third team will face a European opponent in a two-game playoff. More than half of the 16-team field is already set: Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, North Korea, England, France, Norway and Sweden.

The U.S. qualifying-group opponents: Haiti, Guatemala, Costa Rica.
The other group: Mexico, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana.

Format: Two from each group advances to the semifinals. The semifinal winners claim World Cup berths. The third-place game winner goes to the playoff. The Americans are expected to breeze through group play and then encounter a much tougher match in the semifinals against Canada or Mexico.

For the USA qualifying roster.....

GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Barnhart (Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars).
DEFENDERS: Rachel Buehler (Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom).
MIDFIELDERS: Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue), Shannon Boxx (Gold Pride), Kristine Lilly (Boston), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago).
FORWARDS: Lauren Cheney (Boston), Alex Morgan (University of California), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia), Abby Wambach (Washington).

Of note: Washington goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris will train with the squad but won't be eligible to play. ... Top keeper Hope Solo is recovering from shoulder surgery. ... Sauerbrunn, who has just two caps, is the only player in WPS to play every minute of the first two seasons.

Oldest: Lilly, 39.
Youngest: Morgan, 21.
Lilly's first cap came two years before Morgan was born.