A total of 12 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. Costa Rica, as the hosts, and Guatemala, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 4 spots open for competition. The 10 teams were divided into 5 groups of 2 in which one of them will advance to the final tournament.
Preliminary round
Series One
20 April 1969, Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Haiti 2 - 0 United States
11 May 1969, San Diego, United States – United States 0 - 1 Haiti
Haiti qualifies with aggregate score of 3-0.
Series Two
21 October 1969, Mexico City, Mexico – Mexico 3 - 0 Bermuda
2 November 1969, Hamilton, Bermuda – Bermuda 2 - 1 Mexico
Mexico qualifies with aggregate score of 4-2.
Series Three
11 April 1969, Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaica 1 - 1 Panama
11 May 1969, Kingston, Jamaica – Panama 1 - 2 Jamaica
Jamaica qualifies with aggregate score of 3-2.
Series Four
Honduras was disqualified due to Football War with El Salvador, so Netherlands Antilles advanced to the tournament automatically.
Series Five
El Salvador was disqualifed due to Football War with Honduras, so Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the tournament automatically.