Manfred Ugalde, Louicius Don Deedson, Luis Palma, Shamar Nicholson and Jose Luis Rodriguez sizzled as Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama made it maximum points from two games in the second round of Concacaf qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™. Elsewhere, a Jairo Henriquez wonder goal inspired El Salvador to their first victory.

How it works
Between six and eight teams will represent Concacaf at the World Cup 26. Canada, Mexico and USA have already qualified as co-hosts.

Thirty nations are in the hunt to join them. They were drawn into six groups of five in the second round. The top two from each group will reach the third round, which will feature three groups of four. The group winners will qualify for the global finals automatically, while the best two runners-up will go into the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

Group A
Bermuda 1-6 Honduras

Honduras flew out of the blocks and got their reward with 14 minutes gone, Luis Palma’s canny cut-back setting up Kervin Arriaga for a routine finish. Bermuda were back on terms seconds before the first period was up. Kole Hall spun superbly and won a penalty, which Zeiko Lewis converted.

Los Catrachos then struck four times in 13 minutes. Appetising Palma crosses were gobbled up by David Ruiz and Edwin Rodriguez, Luis Vega slashed home a loose ball from a corner, and Andy Najar found the bottom corner following a brilliant back-heel from Rodriguez. Substitute Bryan Rochez got their sixth with an excellent drive in injury-time. Honduras, who began Round 2 winless in 16 World Cup qualifiers, have now registered back-to-back victories for the first time since 2016.

Group B
Grenada 0-3 Costa Rica

Brandon Aguilera’s glorious through-ball enabled Ugalde to snap the deadlock from an examining angle. Scorer then turned provider, the No9 flicking the ball on to Alvaro Zamora, whose deflected strike made it 2-0. Ugalde then laid on another, Gerald Taylor wrapping up the success.

Costa Rica have now won both games, scoring seven goals and conceding zero. Grenada have a point to their name. Los Ticos have also won seven successive World Cup qualifiers – one off the personal best they set in the South Africa 2010 preliminaries.

Asistencia de lujo de Brandon Aguilera y gran definición de Manfred Ugalde pic.twitter.com/kAfyJkedPA

— TD Más (@tdmas_cr) June 9, 2024
Group C
Barbados 1-3 Haiti

Two net-busting finishes gave Haiti a commanding first-half lead. Deedson’s was low into the bottom corner, while Duke Lacroix’s thumped into the roof of the net.
Nadre Butcher looked lively after coming on at the interval, and he got Barbados back into it in the 73rd minute. The 20-year-old jinked inside and unleashed a fizzing shot, which Johny Placide could only parry into the path of Niall Reid-Stephen, who did the rest. The Bajan Tridents pushed hard for an equaliser and, consequently, left themselves open to counter-attacks. From one, Bryan Labissiere’s back-post finish put the match to bed.

Haiti, whose only World Cup participation came in 1974, are now level with section pacesetters Curaçao. Barbados have yet to put a point on the board.

Group D
Montserrat 1-3 Panama

Jovani Welch’s deflected long-ranger put Panama ahead just before the break, only for Kaleem Strawbridge to equalise with a screamer moments after it. Jose Fajardo, only two minutes after coming on, headed home a magnificent cross from Jose Luis Rodriguez, who then nodded home Los Canaleros’ third in the 70th minute.

Thomas Christiansen’s side now have six points from a possible six. They trail frontrunners Nicaragua on goal difference. Lee Bowyer’s Emerald Boys have lost both their games.

Group E
Dominica 2-3 Jamaica

Jamaica struck twice in the last quarter-hour of the first half. When Eustace Marshall failed to clear a hopeful punt forward, Nicholson stabbed home the first. Then Renaldo Cephas flashed his magic and released 19-year-old Kaheim Dixon, who cut inside and doubled the advantage.

The result was seemingly put beyond doubt in the 79th minute. Greg Leigh alertly intercepted the ball and crossed it into the Dominica box. Rather than clear it with his feet, Erskin Williams attempted to do so with his head but also committed a handball. Nicholson made no mistake from the resulting penalty for his third goal in two qualifiers.

Substitutes then spurred Los Pericos to come back swinging. One, Savio Anselm, bent a beautiful pass round the back of the defence for another, Javid George, to round goalkeeper Jahmali Waite and ripple the net. Troy Jules’ exquisite free-kick then left the Reggae Boyz holding on, but that they did to move level on points with section leaders Guatemala. Dominica remain pointless but can take inspiration from their rousing late rally.

Group F
St Vincent and the Grenadines 1-3 El Salvador

El Salvador grabbed an early advantage through a goal-of-the-campaign contender, Henriquez’s fierce, dipping strike from 25 yards finding the top corner of Lemus Christopher’s net. Oalex Anderson’s stooping header – from a corner and with his back to goal – levelled for St Vincent and the Grenadines on the stroke of half-time.

La Selecta retook the lead on the hour via Rafael Tejeda, before the Nelsons united to seal victory, Blanco’s brilliant cross giving Bonilla a simple finish. It was El Salvador’s first World Cup qualifying win in six attempts, and left them on four points from two games. St Vincent and the Grenadines have two defeats from two run-outs.