Taking a look at the third round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ), there appears to be lots of opportunities for twelve nations to succeed. The region’s third round of WCQ kicks off on September 4th with return leg games on September 8th. Twelve CONCACAF teams will play for the right to advance to the fourth round group stage where teams like the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica await. Here is a quick look at each of the six match ups, along with predicted winner and where the winner will play in the fourth round.
Curacao v El Salvador
Winner advances to Group A to play Mexico, Honduras and winner of Canada/Belize
The Curacao national team is one of three teams still alive who played in the first round of CONCACAF qualifying back in March of this year. Led by former Netherlands national team player and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert as their coach, Curacao has surprised many. However, don’t count them out against El Salvador, they are not just happy to have knocked off Montserrat and Cuba in the first two rounds, they are now dreaming of making the group stage for the first time in the nation’s history. The team is made up of European based players with the most recognizable being team captain Cuco Martina from the EPL’s Southampton.
On the other side of the field are two time World Cup participants El Salvador. Their last trip to the grand stage occurred in 1982. La Azul y Blanco, the Blue and Whites, began CONCACAF play in the second round of these qualifiers by defeating St. Kitts and Nevis 6-3 on aggregate, but it took a decisive 4-1 win at home to secure their passage to this round after tying in the first leg 2-2. Striker, Nelson Bonilla scored a brace in the return leg; however, he was not called up for the third round games against Curacao due to still recovering from an ankle injury suffered during this summer’s Gold Cup. The majority of the Salvadorian national team players play in the domestic league, however, two names known to U.S. Soccer fans are Darwin Ceren from Orlando City and Andres Flores from the New York Cosmos. Ceren scored the opening goal against St. Kitts and Nevis in the return leg in the second minute of the game.
Prediction: Curacao seems like a team of destiny right now and can pull off the upset and qualify for the group stage 2-1 on aggregate.
Canada v Belize
Winner advances to Group A to play Mexico, Honduras and winner of Curacao/El Salvador
Canada has only tasted World Cup participation once, in 1986, but their matchup with Belize provides an opportunity to continue their journey. Head Coach Benito Floro brings in nine MLS players, yet not a single player from Toronto FC. Headlining the roster of players on Canada’s side are Orlando City rookie sensation Cyle Larin, who is tied for the team lead in goals scored during qualifiers (2) with Tosaint Ricketts, who plays for Boluspor in Turkey. Captain Julian de Guzman from Ottawa Fury FC will be expected to lead by example, while Portland Timbers’ Will Johnson is expected to play a big role in the midfield. Canada shut out Dominica in the second round of qualifying 6-0 and has the ability to do the same against Belize in the coming days.
Belize brings a team made up of mostly domestic league players, however, there is one player that stands out in the group, striker Deon McCaulay, currently tied for the most goals in CONCACAF qualifying with three, also was tied for the most goals scored in qualifying during the 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign with Robin Van Persie and Luis Suarez (11 goals). McCaulay has the ability to take over a game single handedly, as he did in a second round first leg game against Dominican Republic when he scored both goals in a 2-1 road victory. Head Coach Jorge Nunez stated after Belize’s narrow escape in the first round against Cayman Islands when they were missing McCaulay, “Deon solves all of our attacking problems.” Belize snuck out of the first round of qualifying with an away goal difference, 1-1 on aggregate against the Cayman Islands and then defeated Dominican Republic 5-1 on aggregate in the second round.
Prediction: McCaulay will get his goals against Canada, but I suspect Canada’s players will put up a good fight and help their nation advance on aggregate 6-3.
Grenada v Haiti
Winner advances to Group B to play Costa Rica, Panama and winner of Jamaica/Nicaragua matchup
The island nation of Grenada is one of the least known teams still left in CONCACAF WCQ and just squeezed by Puerto Rico in the second round with a 2-1 aggregate win, in fact, if it weren’t for a Puerto Rico own goal in Grenada, things could have been a bit different. They are the lowest remaining ranked team in CONCACAF (160,) and have never qualified for a World Cup. The team did not release a full roster of players, however, we know that 19 year old striker Jamal Charles, responsible for the goal that sent Grenada through to this round will be on the team, while players such as Goalkeeper Jason Belfon, striker Marcus Julien, forward Jake Rennie, and defensive midfielder Patrick Modeste will all be on the team as well. Belfon is considered the top goalkeeper in the Caribbean, while Modeste has over 100 national team caps and has had trials with MLS teams New England Revolution and D.C. United in the past.
Haiti was a team that announced their campaign for the World Cup in fantastic fashion at this summer’s Gold Cup with a win over Honduras and a late tie against Panama. They also lost to the U.S. 1-0, however, played the Americans toe to toe. The Gold Cup also provided an opportunity for Duckens Nazon to introduce himself to the region as he scored both goals his nation scored in the tournament. Joining Nazon on the WCQ team are midfielders Wilde-Donald Guerrier and Pascal Millien, defenders Mechak Jerome and Kevin Lafrance and goalkeeper Johnny Placide who all were contributors on the Gold Cup team. This will be Haiti’s first WCQ action as they were one of two participating member nations that begin play this round. Haiti are seeking only their second World Cup berth in their nation’s history, their only participation came in 1974.
Prediction: Haiti should have no trouble with Grenada, I expect this to be the most lopsided of the six qualifiers, 7-0 Haiti.
Jamaica v. Nicaragua
Winner advances to Group B to play Costa Rica, Panama and winner of Grenada/Haiti.
The Gold Cup runners-up launch their campaign for the World Cup off the heels of a very successful summer. Jamaica participated in two international tournaments, the Copa America and the Gold Cup, and had some very impressive results, including a semi-final thrashing of the United States. Like Haiti, Jamaica is preparing to play their first games of the WCQ campaign for Russia in 2018 as they also seek only their second ever berth into the World Cup, the Reggae Boyz only participation came in 1998. The finally get to play in front of the home crowd in the opening game of the two leg match up. The team will once again feature an MLS heavy roster that includes Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps), Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers) and young Goalkeeper Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union) among others. Also joining the squad, fresh from his £4.5 million transfer to Chelsea is center back Michael Hector.
Their opponents, Nicaragua, are a team not very well known. They are currently ranked 144th in the world and have never played in a World Cup. They are one of three teams still remaining that also played in the first two rounds. Los Pinorelos (a colloquial term for Nicaraguans) made easy work of their first round opponent Anguilla 8-0 on aggregate, followed by a surprisingly easy 4-1 walk over Suriname on aggregate in the second round. Their veteran, 33 year old, striker Raul Leguias leads the team in scoring with 3 goals so far, including a brace in the return leg against Anguilla in the first round. Carlos Chavarria, a 21 year old striker who plays for domestic club Real Esteli has two goals already and looks to have a good nose for the net. Joined by midfielder Juan Barrera and defenders Luis Fernando Copete and Josue Quijano, Nicaragua could make a name for themselves against Jamaica.
Prediction: Jamaica may be going into their two-leg matchup a bit over confident as Nicaragua has run through the first two rounds of the qualifiers. This will be closer than most people think, Jamaica wins 2-1 on aggregate.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines v. Aruba
Winner advances to Group C to play USA, Trinidad & Tobago and winner of Antigua and Barbuda/Guatemala
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a wonderful opportunity to secure a group stage berth. The island nation has never qualified for a World Cup, they haven’t even played in an international regional tournament since 2007, when they participated in the Caribbean Cup. Vincy Heat, as the team is known, escaped the second round needing the away goal rule to defeat Guyana 6-6 on aggregate. Striker Tevin Slater scored three goals in the two legs and now leads the team in goals. After tying at home against Guyana, 2-2, the pressure was on Vincy Heat to steal the away game, which they did by taking a 4-2 lead and eventually tying 4-4. There was controversy that St. Vincent and the Grenadines played an ineligible player, Gavin James, however, FIFA ruled for the Vincy Heat.
Like their opponents, Aruba is also in the third round thanks to a FIFA ruling in their favor. Barbados defeated Aruba 2-0 in the first leg and 1-0 in the second leg, however, because Barbados fielded an ineligible player in the return leg, Aruba were awarded a 3-0 victory, per FIFA rules, and thus advanced on a 3-2 aggregate score. Now Aruba has a second chance at making it to the group stage of the CONCACAF WCQ. Aruba has never played in a major tournament so making the group stage would be a large feat in it of itself. Because Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and their citizens enjoy Dutch citizenship, many of the national players play in the Netherlands. Included in this is the fact that the national team has a co-operation agreement with PEC Zwolle and their head of youth development. Rini Coolen, will be coaching the team over the two-leg matchup against St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Prediction: This will be a real toss up and entertaining two game series, expect both teams to get after it, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines should emerge 5-4 aggregate winners.
Antigua and Barbuda v. Guatemala
Winner advances to Group C to play USA, Trinidad & Tobago and winner of St. Vincent and the Grenadines/Aruba
Antigua and Barbuda pulled off an incredible comeback in the second round against St. Lucia as they won 5-4 on aggregate. The Benna Boys were staring at a 3-1 deficit going into the second leg of their matchup and found themselves down 4-2 on aggregate in the 81st minute when they reeled off three goals in the final nine minutes, including two in stoppage time to steal the third round spot from St. Lucia. Captain Josh Parker, who plays for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League, is tied for the team lead in goals scored thanks to his brace in the second leg, Tevaughn Harriette also has two goals. The team currently has two head coaches, one being Piotr Nowak, former D.C. United and Philadelphia Union head coach, he is serving as Technical and Personal Advisor to the President of Caribbean Football Union and Technical Director and Head Coach to the Benna Boys.
Guatemala is a team on a sharp decline who’s stars are aging faster than the team can find young players to take their place, Carlos Ruiz remains the team captain at 35 years of age, while players like Carlos Figueroa, Carlos Gallardo and Marvin Avila may have seen their best days gone. Guatemala also tumbled to a FIFA ranking of 108 in the world as they limped into the third round of qualifying. Against Bermuda they needed a road goal in the second leg to wrap up a 1-0 on aggregate win. The bright spot on the team is midfielder Marco Pappa of the Seattle Sounders, his playmaking ability should provide opportunities for teammates. Guatemala has never qualified for a World Cup.
Prediction: Guatemala will be favored, however, their poor showing at the Gold Cup and in their second round WCQ matchup do not bode well. Antigua and Barbuda enter this matchup hungry and will pull it out 4-2 on aggregate.
