Saturday’s CONCACAF Nations League: Curaçao vs Canada, Martinique vs Costa Rica, Montserrat vs Haiti, Bermuda vs Guyana, Sint Maarten vs Bonaire & Turks and Caicos Islands vs U.S. Virgin Islands.
📰 Table Of Contents
Curaçao vs Canada
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The start of a new cycle for Canada, and one that’ll culminate in a World Cup on home soil in June 2026.
Last year, against the odds, the Canucks qualified for a first World Cup since 1986, actually finishing top of the CONCACAF qualifying table.
In Qatar, John Herdman’s team did lose all three games, but are hopeful of better, backed by a home crowd, in just over three years time.
For now, les Rouges’ focus is on reaching the CONCACAF Nations League Finals for the first time, targeting just the team’s second-ever major silverware, and first since 2000.
Canada began this group by smashing Curaçao 4-0 in Vancouver, before a surprise 2-1 defeat in Honduras three days later.
Curaçao meantime have three points on the board, actually beating Honduras in San Pedro Sula on matchday two.
The good news for la Familia Azul is that no one will be relegated from League A, so Remko Bicentini’s team can play free of pressure, targeting a famous win.
Will Canada simply have too much quality at Ergilio Hatostadion?
Martinique vs Costa Rica
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Can Costa Rica keep alive their hopes of reaching the CONCACAF Nations League Finals, as they did two years ago?
Los Ticos began this campaign by suffering a 2-0 defeat to Panama, before beating Martinique by the same scoreline three days later.
Joel Campbell and Francisco Calvo the scorers in San José.
This leaves Luis Fernando Suárez’s side four points below group-leaders Panama, having played a game less, with those two meeting on the final matchday.
Thus, Costa Rica will be desperate to claim a win in Fort-de-France; a draw would not help as Panama’s goal difference is superior by seven.
Martinique meanwhile did hold Panama to a goalless draw in their last home game, so will believe an upset is possible.
Due to competition reconstruction, Marc Collat’s team will not be relegated, even when they invariably finish bottom, so can play without pressure.
Will the away side get the three points they need at Stade Pierre-Aliker?
Montserrat vs Haiti
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Will Haiti secure promotion back to League A and a place at this summer’s Gold Cup?
Right now, les Grenadiers are four points clear at the top of Group B, having accumulated ten points from four matches so far.
Jean-Jacques Pierre’s side have won three successive Nations League fixtures, beating Montserrat 3-2 before back-to-back wins over Guyana, in which they scored six both times.
Haiti are, by some considerable margin, the best team in this group, and a win here will have top spot wrapped up with a game to spare.
Montserrat meantime are just trying to avoid finishing bottom of this group, even if relegation is not longer a possibility following competition reconstruction.
The Emeralds Boys have only ever won three of ten CONCACAF Nations League fixtures, their only win of this cycle coming against Bermuda in June, with star man Lyle Taylor scoring twice.
Here, a Haiti win seems very likely at Blakes Estate Stadium.
Bermuda vs Guyana
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Who will claim three important points?
Back in June, Guyana won 2-1 when these two teams met in Leonora, with Trayon Bobb and Omari Glasgow the scorers.
The Golden Jaguars actually began with back-to-back wins, beating Montserrat 2-1, but successive defeat to Haiti, conceding six each time, has derailed the promotion hopes.
Nevertheless, a win here could rubber stamp second spot for Guyana, which would see them compete in June’s Gold Cup prelims.
Bermuda meanwhile will be targeting a win that’ll see them leapfrog their visitors into second.
The Gombey Warriors have won just once in this group, and this was awarded to them after Montserrat pulled out due to travel issues.
Given that Bermuda face run-away leaders Haiti on Tuesday, they’ll want a win here, not least to fend off the possibility of finishing bottom.
Will there be a winner in Devonshire Parish?
Sint Maarten vs Bonaire
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Will Bonaire wrap-up promotion to League B?
Last summer, Brian van den Bergh’s accumulated ten points from four Nations League matches, beating Turks and Caicos Islands 4-1 and then U.S. Virgin Islands twice.
So, a win here would guarantee top spot for Bonaire, and a place in June’s Gold Cup prelims.
The only team they’ve failed to beat, so far, are Sint Maarten, with the pair drawing 2-2 on matchday two.
The home side did smash Turks and Caicos Islands 8-2 during June’s four-game window, but that’s their only win to date, so need to win here if they’re to keep alive their promotion hopes.
Will Bonaire get the result they need?
Turks and Caicos Islands vs U.S. Virgin Islands
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Will either of these two teams claim a rare CONCACAF Nations League win?
When they met last summer in Saint Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands claimed a 3-2 win, thanks to J. C. Mack’s penalty in the 96th minute.
However, aside from that, the Dashing Eagles are winless in this group, their only other point coming in Sint Maarten.
Turks and Caicos Islands meanwhile are bottom of the section, starting with three successive defeats before a 2-0 victory over Sint Maarten last time out.
These two are ranked 206 and 208 respectively by FIFA, out of 211, so don’t expect too much quality, but goals should be guaranteed in Providenciales.
