Costa Rica, Haiti, Panama and USA have punched their tickets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™, becoming the first four nations set to fly the Concacaf flag later this year.
That quartet secured their spots at the 48-team tournament by topping their groups in the ongoing Concacaf U-17 qualifiers.
Group B
Panama goals: Lucas Norte (5), Jossimar Insturain (10), Estevis Lopez (31), Thiago Chalmers (84)
Nicaragua goal: Bryan Corea (68)
Section hosts Panama squared off with Nicaragua at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez knowing that a win or a draw would secure passage to a fifth U-17 World Cup, while only maximum points would be enough for the visitors to qualify for the first time.
Half an hour into things in Panama City and the hosts had virtually put the contest to bed. A stunning 35-yard opener from Lucas Norte in just the fifth minute set Panama on their way before Jossimar Insturain doubled the lead five minutes later. Captain Estevis Lopez then dribbled his way into the box and unfurled a blistering left-footed strike to send the hosts to the break with a 3-0 lead.
Nicaragua managed to peg a goal back midway through the second stanza as Bryan Corea stabbed home from a corner before they had Sander Peralta sent off for a second yellow with a quarter of an hour remaining. That allowed Panama the space for a fourth as Thiago Chalmers grabbed his fifth goal of the tournament with a close-range header to ensure Los Canaleros’ qualification.
Group C
Haiti goals: Sonson Junior Jean-Baptiste (7), Danrick Dalce (22)
Guatemala goal: Patrick Arana (11)
In Guatemala City, the hosts faced Haiti in another direct confrontation for a place at Qatar 2026. With both nations having won their opening two matches, it was Guatemala that held the advantage in terms of goal differential but that was erased in just the seventh minute as Sonson Junior Jean-Baptiste nodded home a free kick from captain Miguel Joseph to put Haiti back in control of their own destiny.
Guatemala though struck back four minutes later with Patrick Arana sending a glancing header from close range past Clifford Gene in the Haiti goal. A see-sawing opening stanza then saw the advantage swing back Haiti’s way as Danrick Dalce swept home from adjacent to the spot to send his nation to the break with a 2-1 lead, and qualification back in their own hands.
Macenat Prophete came close to making it three midway through the second half before Guatemala saw a header crash back off the bar in the tenth minute of stoppage time as Haiti hung on to secure passage to a fourth U-17 World Cup.
Group D
Group D also came to a close on Tuesday and it was Costa Rica booking their spot in Qatar thanks to a 0-0 draw against Puerto Rico at the home of the Costa Rican Football Federation.
Los Ticos arrived into the affair with an enormously impressive +35 goal difference thanks to clean sheet wins over Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands, respectively, but they were held in check by a feisty Puerto Rico side.
The Boricuas had also registered tall victories against their fellow Caribbean opponents, but were unable to find a way past Costa Rica’s resolute defence.
Ethan Barley, Paul Gonzalez and Akenai Samuels were among the heroes for the Central Americans, scoring six goals each during the qualifiers.
USA goal: Malik Jakupovic (41)
Dominican Republic goal: Adrian Garcia (44)
USA were pushed to the end by the Dominican Republic as they topped Group E to secure their 20th appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™. Both teams went into Tuesday’s decisive clash at Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown level on points after dominant victories over St. Kitts and Nevis and co-hosts St. Vincent and the Grenadines, respectively.
Crucially, the Stars and Stripes had a better goal difference than Los Quisqueyanos and needed just a draw to qualify, a result they secured with a goal from Malik Jakupovic in a 1-1 draw. Under the tutelage of coach Alex Aldaz, the Americans looked highly impressive in qualifying, with Jakupovic scoring an incredible eight goals in three matches.
Picture credits: US Soccer, Concacaf
