Overview
- Group A enters the fifth matchday tightly bunched at Surinam 6 points, Panama 6, Guatemala 5 and El Salvador 3, with Guatemala vs. Panama at El Trébol set to shape the race for the lone automatic spot.
- Guatemala’s path to a direct berth, as outlined by ESPN and local reports, is to beat Panama and Surinam to reach 11 points, with a secondary route requiring specific draws and results involving Surinam and Panama.
- Security concerns escalated in Guatemala City after a banner threatening CONCACAF, Panamanians and match officials was shared on social media; Mexico’s César Arturo Ramos is listed as referee and coach Luis Fernando Tena urged “zero violence.”
- Surinam hosts El Salvador in Paramaribo in the other Group A fixture, with the match carried in El Salvador on TCS Canal 4 and TCS Go, while U.S. coverage of the round is available on Telemundo/Universo (Spanish) and CBS/Paramount (English), plus Concacaf GO and the confederation’s YouTube channel.
- Honduras tops Group C with 8 points after a 3–0 win over Haiti and visits Nicaragua, which is already eliminated on 1 point, while Costa Rica faces Haiti as the chase for one direct berth per group and two playoff spots tightens.