With Mexico, Canada, and the United States hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the tournament expanding its field, CONCACAF will send a historic number of teams to the World Cup. Fans across Central America and the Caribbean are dreaming big about qualification. September marked the start of the final campaign, with three groups of four teams. Group winners qualify directly, while two second-place sides will advance to the intercontinental playoff to face New Caledonia, Bolivia, and a team yet to be determined from Africa or Asia.
Costa Rica’s Campaign Off to a Rocky Start
With six World Cup appearances, including a quarterfinal run in 2014, Costa Rica are a legendary CONCACAF side. The Ticos have reached three consecutive World Cups, but a fourth straight looks perilous. Two draws—a 1-1 away tie with Nicaragua, where they conceded a late penalty, and a chaotic 3-3 at home against Haiti—leave them on just two points, trailing Group C leaders Honduras.
The Haiti match was dramatic: Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal) scored a second-half hat trick, while Juan Pablo Vargas equalized in stoppage time after Costa Rica had been 2-0 up. Veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas (Pumas) anchors a relatively young squad trying to regenerate under Mexican manager Miguel Herrera. The pressure is on Spartak Moscow’s Manfred Ugalde, the 23-year-old striker tasked with leading the line.
Despite the shaky start, Costa Rica still have the quality to recover over four remaining games. However, what should have been a straightforward path to qualification is already looking uncertain.
Haiti, with two draws, and Honduras—the group leaders on four points—are poised to capitalize. Haiti is led by their all-time score Nazon. Honduras, fresh from the 2025 Gold Cup semifinals, beat Nicaragua and now host Costa Rica in a pivotal October clash. Veteran players such as Nashville SC’s Andy Najar, 32-year-old captain Anthony Lozano (Santos Laguna), and 34-year-old Romell Quioto (Saudi Arabia) give Honduras a well-balanced, experienced side, while Luis Palma who plays in Poland is an interesting talent.
Jamaica Flying Into First Place
Jamaica look set for their second World Cup. They breezed past Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago to go two points clear of Dutch Caribbean side Curacao after two games. A crucial October clash against Curacao will test them, with players like Barnsley’s Jon Russell and Tijuana’s Shamar Nicholson expected to feature prominently.
Suriname and Curacao Show the Strength of the Caribbean
Curacao, independent in international football only since 2011, seeks its first World Cup. The squad drew with Trinidad & Tobago and defeated Bermuda to finish the first break on four points. Legendary 77-year-old Dutch manager Dick Advocaat leads a side largely composed of Europe-based players, including Sheffield United’s Tahith Chong.
Group A sees Suriname surprisingly in the lead on four points. El Salvador sits on three, Panama on two, and Guatemala on one. Suriname edged El Salvador 2-1 away, with Dhoraso Klas scoring a late winner. The Dutch-speaking nation, whose players mostly compete in Europe, has never been ranked higher than #84 by FIFA. Osasuna’s Sheraldo Becker is a standout. Against El Salvador they were the better team, and responded with passion against a hostile, abusive crowd.
El Salvador, whose last World Cup appearance came in 1982, relies on mostly domestic players, led by LAFC’s 21-year-old Nathan Ordaz. Guatemala, also domestically focused in-terms of squad composition, has never qualified, with USL’s Rubio Rubin among their notable talents. A World Cup appearance for either team with be the closest thing to hosting World Cup home games that they could manage, with both teams have large fanbases in the United States along with Honduras and Nicaragua.
Panama, a higher-ranked CONCACAF nation, aims for a second-ever World Cup appearance. With a squad spread across South America, Mexico, and MLS, they have put together three consecutive draws and now face El Salvador away and Suriname at home in October.
While group favorites Costa Rica and Panama can still recover and qualify, early returns indicate CONCACAF’s race for World Cup spots is open, competitive, and unpredictable.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xMikaelxOnax
