Suriname and Jamaica Advance to 2026 World Cup Intercontinental Playoff in Dramatic Concacaf Finish
Guatemala City, Guatemala – A last-gasp own goal by Guatemala propelled suriname into the 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoff, concluding a grueling Concacaf qualifying campaign filled with unexpected twists. Alongside Suriname, jamaica also secured a spot in the playoff, setting the stage for a high-stakes mini-tournament to determine their World Cup fate.
The dramatic conclusion saw Suriname benefit from a tiebreaker after finishing with the same goal difference (+3) as Honduras. Suriname’s superior goal tally – 9 goals scored compared to Honduras’ 5 – proved to be the decisive factor, a difference of just one goal after 10 qualifying matches. Both Suriname and Jamaica will now participate in a playoff tournament hosted in Guadalajara and Monterrey on November 20th, following a draw in Zurich to determine their specific opponents.
The intercontinental playoff will feature Suriname, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Bolivia, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with only two teams ultimately earning berths in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup. The draw will reveal which teams will face each other in the quest for a coveted spot in the tournament.
