Haiti to host 2026 qualifiers in Barbados as Concacaf unveils opening group schedules

May 13 – Concacaf has released the schedule for second round of World Cup Qualifying that will begin next month complete in 2024.

The most notable scheduling in the fixture release is that Haiti, who are seeded top of Group C with Curaca, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Aruba, will play their opening two games in Barbados due to the impossibility of hosting matches as a result of the violence and civil unrest in their own country.

Haiti will open with a ‘home’ fixture against St Lucia, before playing Barbados.

A total of 30 nations will play across four match dates in June 2024 and June 2025, divided into six groups of five.

For the final round of qualifying, the 12 group winners and runners up will be divided into three groups of four.

The Final Round matches will be played during the September, October, and November 2025 international match windows.

The three group winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup alongside joint hosts Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Round 2 Groups:

Group A: Honduras, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands
Group B: Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Bahamas
Group C: Haiti, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Barbados, Aruba
Group D: Panama, Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat, Belize
Group E: Jamaica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Dominica, British Virgin Islands
Group F: El Salvador, Suriname, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla

Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Antigua and Barbuda vs Bermuda – ABFA Technical Center, St. John’s, ATG
Suriname vs Saint Vincent and The Grenadines – Dr. Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR
Trinidad and Tobago vs Grenada – Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, TRI
Curacao vs Barbados – Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, CUW
Nicaragua vs Montserrat – Estadio Nacional de Futbol, Managua, NCA
Guatemala vs Dominica – Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, GUA

Thursday, June 6, 2024 
Haiti vs Saint Lucia – Wildey Turf, Bridgetown, BRB
Jamaica vs Dominican Republic – National Stadium, Kingston, JAM
Honduras vs Cuba – Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles, Tegucigalpa, HON
Panama vs Guyana – Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama City, PAN
Costa Rica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis – Estadio Nacional, San Jose, CRC
El Salvador vs Puerto Rico – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, SLV

Saturday, June 8, 2024 
British Virgin Islands vs Guatemala – A.O Shirley Recreation Ground, Road Town, VGB
Anguilla vs Suriname – Raymond E. Guishard Technical Center, The Valley, AIA
Cayman Islands vs Antigua and Barbuda – Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, CAY
Bahamas vs Trinidad and Tobago – SKNFA Technical Center, Basseterre, SKN
Aruba vs Curacao – Compleho Deportivo Guillermo Trinidad, Oranjestad, ARU
Belize vs Nicaragua – FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ

Sunday, June 9, 2024 
Dominica vs Jamaica – Windsor Park Sports Stadium, Roseau, DMA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs El Salvador – Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR
Grenada vs Costa Rica – Kirani James Athletics Stadium, St. George’s, GRN
Barbados vs Haiti – Wildey Astro Turf, Bridgetown, BRB
Bermuda vs Honduras – Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, BER
Montserrat vs Panama – Estadio Nacional de Futbol, Managua, NCA

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 
Saint Lucia vs Aruba – Wildey Astro Turf, Bridgetown, BRB
Cuba vs Cayman Islands – Estadio Antonio Maceo, Santiago, CUB
Saint Kitts and Nevis vs Bahamas – Warner Park Football Stadium, Basseterre, SKN
Guyana vs Belize – Wildey Astro Turf, Bridgetown, BRB
Dominican Republic vs British Virgin Islands – Estadio Panamericano, San Cristobal, DOM
Puerto Rico vs Anguilla – Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, Bayamon, PUR

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