Suriname top 2026 qualifying group overcoming El Salvador and a night of racist abuse to do so

 

Concacaf’s final group round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers saw Jamaica get off to a fast start with two wins, while Honduras and Suriname continued their form from the Summer Gold Cup to top their groups after two rounds.

Concacaf’s final qualifying stage is down to 12 teams in three groups of four. Only the group winners qualify automatically – joining the USA, Mexico and Canada who qualify as hosts. Two inter-confederation play-off slots are available for the best ranked second placed teams.

Suriname’s 2-1 away win in El Salvador could prove to be the defining result for the Dutch-speaking nation if the qualify, but the match was marred by racist abuse of Suriname’s players, staff and board members at the highly charged game at the Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador.

During the match discriminatory chants continued throughout the match, including repeated and direct racist insults from sections of the crowd.

The Suriname FA (SVB) said it is filing a formal protest with Concacaf and FIFA, while SVB chairman Dayasankar Mathoera praised “the professionalism and resilience of our players and coaching staff, who remained focused despite these hostile circumstances… Their performance reflects the values of dignity, unity, and perseverance that Suriname stands for.”

Panama start slowly

Suriname drew with Panama in their opening game of the group in a result that will have disappointed the Panamanians who have become Concacaf’s leading Central American nation. Panama were knocked out on penalties in the Gold Cup quarter finals against Honduras, and managed only two draws in their opening 2026 qualifiers.

Panama also drew with Guatemala who were Concacaf’s Gold Cup breakthrough nation, losing in the semi-finals to Mexico having beaten Jesse Marche’s pumped-up Canada in the quarter finals.

Guatemela lost to El Salvador but they are a young side who know how to come from behind and can be relentless.

Reggae Boyz jamming

After a poor Gold Cup, Steve McLaren’s Jamaica found momentum with a 4-0 won over Bermuda and a 2-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago at home.

The Jamaicans are pursuing what would only be their second World Cup finals and next face Curacao in what will be a crucial fixture in defining the lead of the group. Curacao beat Bermuda but drew with Trinidad in their opening games.

Group of death

Honduras lead their group with a win and a draw against Nicaragua and Haiti respectively.

Also in the group are Costa Rica who after some lean years following the retirement of a golden generation of players, are rebuilding with a young team that shone in the Summer at the Gold Cup.

They opened with draws against Nicaragua and a pulsating 3-3 draw with Haiti. They face Suriname in the October fixture window. Just three points separate the top and bottom of a group where every side is potentially only a game away from holding the 2026 qualification slot.