November’s Concacaf window will see World Cup 26 hopefuls Jamaica, Costa Rica and Honduras try to end the year strong before a pivotal 2025.
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Key Nations League matches highlight the November window in Concacaf
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World Cup 26 hopefuls Jamaica, Costa Rica and Honduras among teams in action
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Curacao and Saint Lucia to add chapter to budding rivalry
The November international window shapes up as a big one in the Concacaf region, with many teams hoping to continue building their Nations League momentum to then take into 2025 when the second round of Concacaf qualifying resumes for FIFA World Cup 26™.
FIFA takes a look at five of the match-ups on the docket.
USA-Jamaica
Qualifying for World Cup 26 is not a worry for co-hosts USA, but there is still something at stake in this Nations League quarter-final against Jamaica. It marks the first competitive match in the tenure of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, with the winner qualifying for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup and advancing to the Nations League Finals in March. The Argentinian debuted with a win against Panama and a defeat to Mexico in a pair of friendlies last month, so a sterner test awaits against the Reggae Boyz.
The Steve McClaren era at Jamaica is off to a very promising start after posting two wins and two draws in League A group play, the most impressive result being a 2-1 win at Honduras. Just one goal was given up by the Caribbean side in that span, so they could well make life very difficult for a USA side that has struggled to score goals. World Cup qualifying for Jamaica, which started last June under former coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, saw the islanders earn two narrow wins. A strong performance against the Stars and Stripes will have Jamaica feeling good as they head into a pivotal 2025.
Panama-Costa Rica
It is déjà vu all over again for these two Central American rivals. They met in the 2023 Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals, 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League group stage and the 2023 Gold Cup. Panama have enjoyed the recent spoils, winning the last five meetings. Both teams are in good shape in their respective groups in World Cup qualifying with six points after two games and all signs point toward progression to the third round.
But it is crucial for the Ticos to send a message in this two-legged League A quarter-final. Panama have become the bogeyman for Costa Rica and chances are quite decent that the two could meet in the decisive third round of qualifying. A year ago in their 2023-24 quarter-final, the Canaleros toyed with Costa Rica, winning 6-1 on aggregate. Victory in this series for the Brazil 2014 quarter-finalists could be the catalyst to qualifying for 2026.
Mexico-Honduras
This League A quarter-final sees another 2026 co-host going up against a team aspiring to reach the big dance. It is also a rematch of their contentious 2023-24 Nations League quarter-final when a last-second Edson Alvarez goal for Mexico allowed El Tricolor to draw 2-2 with Honduras on aggregate and force a penalty shootout won by the home side in Mexico City.
Honduras will be keen to avenge that, but also to stay firing on all cylinders before their next qualifier in June. The Catrachos have not been to the World Cup since Brazil 2014, but they are in good shape in the current second round, with eight different players accounting for their nine goals. A strong finish to the year will provide confidence for 2025.
Curacao-Saint Lucia
After not entering qualifying for Qatar 2022, Saint Lucia are on a mission to make waves on the road to 2026. They got a lot of people’s attention in the September Nations League window when they defeated Dick Advocaat’s Curacao 2-1 to open play in their League B group. The two teams meet again in their group finale on 18 November in which a first-place finish and qualification to the 2025 Gold Cup are expected to be at stake. It would be the first-ever Gold Cup qualification for Saint Lucia
There is also the small matter of a World Cup qualifier between the two teams next June, with Saint Lucia desperate to get back into the mix in Group C after earning just one point from their first two matches. Meanwhile, Curacao are cruising with six points after two matches, but a Saint Lucia win in the November window would hand Stern John’s side a massive mental edge ahead of the qualifier.
Dominican Republic-Bermuda
Dominican Republic are another team hoping to reach their first-ever Gold Cup and they can do it with a win in their League B finale on 19 November at home against Bermuda. Dominican Republic already have the edge having won away in Bermuda 3-2 last September.
Currently in qualifying, Dominican Republic sit third in Group E with three points, a full three points behind Guatemala and Jamaica. A visit to Guatemala City looms on 6 June, which will make or break Dominican Republic’s 2026 hopes. Winning their Nations League group and earning Gold Cup qualification would provide a huge lift.
