Analyzing September Window for CONCACAF World cup Qualifying

Reviewing the first four games in each group for the Final Round of Qualifying

With Canada, Mexico, and the United States already confirmed as Hosts of next summer’s football tournament, these twelve National teams are competing for three automatic spots or the chance to secure one of the top two second-place finishes for the intercontinental playoffs. Here is our analysis in all three groups.

Group A: Surprises and upsets

We saw some amazing football in this group, as the favorites in Panama and Guatemala failed to earn the full three points in both games. El Salvador earned an upset win away in Guatemala with a late goal by Harold Osorio to take the win, but it was Suriname who were the biggest surprise in this group.

Hosting Panama and working a scoreless draw, but when they came to the Estadio Cuscatlan, the Dutch nation found a way to score goals and take a huge victory away to win the match by a final score of two goals to one. Suriname is currently at the top of the group with four points, and El Salvador is in second place with three.

Recently successful Panama has been disappointing with two draws. A goalless draw at Suriname and a one-goal draw at home against Guatemala. While Panama is still hanging around with two points, we will see what they can do when the October window comes.

Group B: Jamaica leads, Curacao is close

Jamaica has always been a powerhouse in the Caribbean Zone of CONCACAF, but in recent years, they have been more misses than hits. Former England National Team Head Coach Steve McClaren has come in and made sure to tell his players to go out and dominate. They did so away at Bermuda with a four goal clean sheet. Then at home, they edged Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica scored six goals and gave up nothing.

Curacao had a good start to their World Cup Qualifying Campaign with a hard-fought scoreless draw away at Trinidad, but hosting Bermuda looked like a great start, till they allowed them back in before half time. It was Tahith Chong who was the man of the match, scoring two goals and setting up the winner in the 75th minute. Both Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago are currently in trouble with a combination of just one point

Honduras and the Draws

Group C is the biggest head-scratcher for the final round of qualifying. Three matches with draws, while the only one with a win was Honduras defeating Nicaragua at home. Costa Rica, which is one of the strongest sides in the Central American zone, had a numerical advantage in Nicaragua, but could only get a one goal draw. But playing against Haiti, they were down from a hat trick by Duckens Nazon until Manfred Ugalde saved them with a late stoppage time goal.

Many thought Costa Rica would be the favorite to win this group, then flip a coin to see who might threaten for that playoff spot, if one of the two comes from Group C. Right now, it’s not looking good, but for Honduras, getting that win was a big moment for their National Team.

What will October bring?

What I’m hoping to see is more excitement and intrigue. Is this the moment for Suriname to qualify for its first World Cup? Will they secure enough points to put the other three sides out of reach in Group A? Can Jamaica continue its domination, or will Curacao sneak past them in Group B? Can Costa Rica turn things around and start winning? While draws are fine, they can’t afford to lose a match and open that top spot to Honduras in Group C.

But the bigger questions are, which teams will occupy those best second place slots for the Intercontinental Playoffs? While some of the favorites do have plenty of time to make up ground, as they are hanging on with two draws, like Panama and Costa Rica, they have to be careful, as one loss could spell doom for them until the final window in November.

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying News:

• Six Goal Thriller as Costa Rica and Haiti Draw in World Cup Qualifier
• Curacao Edges Bermuda in World Cup Qualifying
• Suriname Upsets El Salvador in World Cup Qualifying

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