Guatemala and Panama Vie for World Cup Qualification This Thursday
Guatemala city,Guatemala – Guatemala and Panama face off this Thursday in a pivotal Concacaf qualifying match with direct implications for teh 2026 FIFA World Cup.The outcome of this game, alongside other simultaneous qualifiers, will determine which teams advance to the Intercontinental Repechage and secure their place in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Currently, 28 of the 48 World Cup spots are filled. This November international window is crucial as it will finalize the remaining Concacaf representatives – three teams will be steadfast this week – and the last 11 UEFA teams to join the field, bringing the total to 42 qualified nations. The stakes are high for both Guatemala and Panama, as a positive result could propel them towards a historic World Cup appearance.
The final round of Concacaf qualifying matches is uniquely scheduled for simultaneous kickoff to ensure fairness, as tiebreakers will rely on comparing the performance of second-place teams across different groups.Beyond direct qualification, this double-date will also identify the Concacaf team, along with one each from Asia and Africa, that will participate in the Intercontinental Repechage alongside Bolivia and New Caledonia, vying for two additional World Cup berths.
The current list of qualified teams includes:
* Hostesses: Canada, Mexico, United States
* AFC: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
* CAF: Algeria, Cape Verde, ivory Coast, Egypt, ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
* CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
* OFC: New Zealand
* UEFA: England
