Qualifiers Heat Up: Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica Secure โคWins โin 2026 โขWorld Cup Pursuit
Several Central american and โCaribbeanโ nations advanced their bids for teh 2026 FIFA World Cupโฃ during recent โฃConcacaf qualifying matches.โ Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica all emerged victorious, bolstering โtheir positions in โขthe qualifying rounds.โ These early results โคare crucial as teams vie for limited spots in theโ expanded 48-team tournament. The ongoing โqualifiers โคdetermine which nations fromโฃ the region will represent โConcacaf โฃon the world stage,โ with implications for nationalโข pride, economic impact thru tourism, andโ development of the sport within eachโค country.
In Guatemala City, panama defeatedโ guatemala โ3-2 in aโข high-scoring Group A encounter at El Trรฉbol โStadium. Cecilio Waterman led the way for Los โขCanaleros โฃwith two โขgoals in โฃthe 30th and 44th minutes. Guatemala responded withโฃ goals from Arquรญmides Ordรณรฑez (69′) and Rudy Muรฑoz (72′),โ but Josรฉ Fajardo sealed the win for Panama with a 78th-minute strike.
Meanwhile, Nicaragua achievedโ a significantโค 2-0 victory over honduras at the Nicaraguan National Soccer Stadium in Group C. Bancyโ Hernรกndez opened the scoring in the 12thโ minute, assisted by โขJaime Moreno, and Moreno added a second goal in the 82nd minute, assisted by Junior Arteaga.
Elsewhere, the Costaโ Rica national team arrivedโข in Curacao ahead of their World Cup qualifierโค against Haiti, takingโค aโค walk through the Ergilio Hato Stadium upon arrival.