The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially heating up across the Concacaf region, and September 4, 2025, marks the start of a frantic sprint that will see dreams realized and hopes dashed before the year is out. With the United States, Mexico, and Canada already assured of their places as hosts, the focus now shifts to the remaining Concacaf hopefuls who are set to battle it out for the final coveted spots in the world’s biggest football tournament.
This cycle is different. For the first time, Concacaf’s expanded allocation means three direct qualification places are up for grabs, with two more teams able to reach the World Cup through the inter-confederation playoffs. That’s a potential eight Concacaf teams in the 48-team field—a record that has the region buzzing with anticipation.
After months of preliminary rounds, the field has been whittled down to 12 nations. These teams are split into three groups of four, and only the group winners can punch their ticket straight to the World Cup. The two best second-placed teams have a lifeline: the intercontinental playoff, where they’ll get one last shot at glory. It’s a high-stakes, fast-paced format—six matches over three months, a true sprint rather than a marathon.
Group A features Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Suriname. Group B is a Caribbean showcase with Jamaica, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, and Bermuda. Group C sees Costa Rica, Honduras, Haiti, and Nicaragua vying for supremacy. Every match counts, and there’s no room for error.
The action kicks off with Guatemala hosting El Salvador at Estadio Cementos Progreso. Guatemala, fresh off a memorable Gold Cup run that saw them reach the semifinals, is hoping to carry that momentum into this crucial window. Their defense, led by Aaron Herrera, has been a revelation, while the attack has shown newfound bite. Head coach Luis Fernando Tena is keeping his players grounded, reminding them, “World Cup qualification matches are totally different than the rest of them—from Gold Cup, Nations League, whatever. It’s another thing entirely,” he told Tigo Sports.
While some Guatemalan stars like Nicolas Samayoa and Oscar Santis stayed local rather than making moves abroad, there’s good news: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is back from injury, and youngsters Olger Escober and Arquímides Ordóñez are seeing more minutes. Tena knows Panama is the group favorite, but he’s not looking past El Salvador. “I think we’re level with El Salvador and Suriname. We can’t say ‘They were bad at the Gold Cup, so we’ll win easily,’ I don’t take anything for granted because El Salvador will be very different,” he insisted.
Guatemala’s second match of the window—a visit to Panama—could be a defining moment in Group A. Panama, for their part, are no longer the plucky underdogs of years past. After their 2018 World Cup debut and a string of strong showings, expectations are sky-high. A quarterfinal exit at the Gold Cup was a disappointment, but with key players like Ismael Diaz back and in form—Diaz has scored four goals in his first four Liga MX matches—the pressure is on. Head coach Thomas Christiansen isn’t hiding from it. “Pressure has the most heard and used phrase by you all (in the press) in 2025 and, yes, it’s the maximum pressure. It’s an obligation,” Christiansen declared at a recent press conference. “In my contract, that’s all I’ve got. It’s my last World Cup qualification cycle.”
Panama’s captain, Anibal Godoy, echoed the sentiment, saying, “The message for the fans and the country is to be united. This is the most important moment for us, for the country. We’re defending 4.5 million people, not just us as the group that is here. A country is behind us, and we’re very aware of what we’re playing for.”
Over in Group C, Honduras is looking to recapture former glories under the guidance of Reinaldo Rueda, the manager who led them to the 2010 World Cup. But the path is steep. Honduras opens against Haiti at a neutral venue in Curacao—a quirk that could play into Haiti’s hands, given the unfamiliar conditions. Goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar has improved, but questions remain about both the defense and the attack, where Anthony Lozano, Romell Quioto, and Luis Palma must find consistency. Palma, who scored twice in eight matches since his Nations League breakout, knows the challenge ahead: “We already know Haiti is a team with a fighting spirit, a team that plays aggressively and also has good players—a lot of them are based in Europe, and we’ve really got to be careful with them,” he said. “Nicaragua also has improved in Central America.”
Jamaica, the Group B favorites, are aiming for a second World Cup appearance—their first since 1998. But injuries and player availability have thrown a wrench in their plans. Their September matches, away to Bermuda and home to Trinidad & Tobago, will be critical. Curaçao, meanwhile, has bolstered its squad with new recruits and will be looking to make a splash, while Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda are eager to play spoilers.
The Caribbean is guaranteed a return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006, thanks to Group B’s all-island lineup. The big question: which nation will seize the opportunity? Consistency has been elusive for many Caribbean teams—Jamaica can look like world-beaters one match and struggle the next, while Trinidad & Tobago and Curaçao have both faced challenges with player recruitment and integration. The teams that find their rhythm quickly will have the inside track.
Every match in this window is a potential turning point. Panama vs. Guatemala on September 8 could swing Group A, while Jamaica’s clash with Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica’s showdown with Haiti on September 9 are set to shape Groups B and C. October brings blockbuster fixtures like Honduras vs. Costa Rica and Curaçao vs. Jamaica, with November 13 looming as a possible day of destiny—Guatemala vs. Panama and Costa Rica vs. Honduras could decide who’s headed to the World Cup and who’s left hoping for a playoff miracle.
But there’s peril, too. El Salvador faces a daunting group and could be in trouble, while Trinidad & Tobago will need to get results against Curaçao to avoid finishing third. With only two second-place teams advancing to the intercontinental playoffs, even a single draw could spell disaster for hopefuls like Guatemala, Honduras, or Haiti.
Fans across the region can catch every moment, with matches broadcast in the U.S. on CBS Sports and Paramount+, and globally on the Concacaf YouTube page. The pressure is immense, but so is the opportunity. For these teams, it’s a chance to make history, inspire a nation, and join the world’s elite on football’s grandest stage.
As the first whistle blows and the sprint begins, every point, every goal, and every save will be magnified. The next three months promise drama, heartbreak, and, for a few lucky teams, the ultimate reward. The race to North America 2026 is well and truly underway.
