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Panama, Haiti and Curacao Seal 2026 World Cup Berths as Concacaf Qualifying Ends

March’s intercontinental playoff in Mexico will award two final berths, with Jamaica, Suriname, Iraq, DR Congo, Bolivia and New Caledonia in the field.

Overview

  • Panama topped Group A with a 3-0 win over El Salvador to book a second World Cup appearance after debuting in 2018.
  • Curacao earned its first-ever qualification by drawing 0-0 at Jamaica, surviving a stoppage-time penalty that was overturned after VAR review.
  • Haiti returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, clinching Group C while playing home fixtures in Willemstad due to security issues.
  • Jamaica and Suriname advanced to the intercontinental playoff as the best runners-up, completing a six-team field for single-match ties in March in Mexico.
  • Iraq joined the playoff by beating the UAE 2-1 with a last-minute VAR-awarded penalty, as traditional Concacaf powers Honduras and Costa Rica were eliminated, with coach Miguel Herrera accepting blame.