It has all come down to this in the final round of Concacaf qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™. With the three groups far from decided, the November window will make heroes of some, while breaking the hearts of others. Suriname, Jamaica and Honduras enter the slate as the group leaders, but plenty of teams currently on the outside looking in also have their own fate in their hands.
History will assuredly be made in Group B, as either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago could become the first Caribbean side to qualify for two World Cups, while Curaçao could become the fifth different team from the islands to reach the global showpiece.
FIFA sets the stage here for a thrilling finale to Concacaf qualifying.
Group A
Suriname continue to defy the odds. They held the group lead after the September window and still remain atop following the October games. They will open things at home in Paramaribo against last-place El Salvador with an opportunity to strengthen their position at the summit. Four different players have accounted for Suriname’s four goals in this round, but it is Sheraldo Becker that is the straw that stirs the Surinamese drink in attack.
Many tabbed Panama as the favourites to take the group, and they still have a great opportunity to do so, but it has been a struggle for Thomas Christiansen’s men. They needed a last-gasp goal to rescue a draw at home to Suriname, and now they will face a hostile atmosphere away to a Guatemala side that will be playing both November matches at home. These two battled to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting and margins will be similarly thin here. Oscar Santis has been lethal in front of goal for Guatemala, but Panama’s Jose Fajardo is just as dangerous.
If Guatemala defeat Panama and then do the same against Suriname five days later, Los Chapines will qualify for their first World Cup. Suriname can say the same if things go their way against El Salvador and then they take care of business in Guatemala City. Meanwhile, Panama close their campaign at home against former coach Bolillo Gomez’s El Salvador knowing that likely only a victory will do to secure automatic qualification.
Group B
With Bermuda eliminated, the group has come down to Jamaica, Curaçao and Trinidad and Tobago. Curaçao travel to Bermuda to start things off, while Jamaica head to Trinidad and Tobago in what is a must-win for the Soca Warriors. The Reggae Boyz are clinging to a narrow lead atop the table, and will be under pressure to get any kind of result in Port of Spain, working under the assumption that Curaçao should handle Bermuda.
Even if Jamaica only salvage a draw at Trinidad and Tobago, they still have Curaçao at home to close qualifying, and all signs point toward that being the showdown to determine who goes to next year’s big party in North America. It won’t be all bad news for the runner-up in the group though, as most likely that team will get a second chance in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament next March. Trinidad and Tobago’s hopes hinge on getting victories in the final two contests and hope results go their way to either qualify directly or progress to the play-off.
Three players have stood out among these three teams and will no doubt play crucial roles in these finales. Livano Comenencia has emerged as a threat for Curaçao, Renaldo Cephas relentlessly creates scoring chances for Jamaica and the opportunistic Tyrese Spicer has etched his name on several scoresheets for Trinidad and Tobago.
Group C
Honduras will very much fancy their chances to book their place at World Cup 26 and for them, the sooner the better. They open the window at Nicaragua, whose only hope is to get to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. Should the Catrachos win in Managua, they will be keen to see how things unfold in Willemstad when Haiti take on Costa Rica. A Honduras victory and a draw between Les Grenadiers and Los Ticos means Honduras are back in the World Cup for the first time since Brazil 2014.
However, if Honduras drop points in Nicaragua and there is a winner in the Haiti-Costa Rica match, it could be a final matchday to remember. Costa Rica would like nothing more than to get a crack at Honduras at home in a winner-take-all affair, while Haiti will definitely feel confident that three points can come their way against Nicaragua and hope for a draw in San Jose.
Alonso Martinez and Manfred Ugalde are hitting their stride for Costa Rica’s attack, but Honduras are equally potent up top with Antony Lozano, Romell Quioto and Luis Palma. Haiti’s Duckens Nazon is the top goalscorer in Concacaf qualifying with six goals and is a good bet to add to that total this month, but it would certainly benefit them for Frantzdy Pierrot to find his first goal of this third round.
Photos courtesy of Concacaf, Jamaican Football Federation, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association
