The 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League returns this week with its definitive window for teams in all three leagues, while four teams from CONCACAF continue their campaigns in the 2023 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Indonesia.
League A
CONCACAF said on Tuesday that the stage is set for the eight quarterfinalists in League A to take the final step to qualifying for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 and advancing to the 2023-24 CONCACAFNations League Finals.
The first legs of the four two-legged quarterfinals get started on Thursday with the United States hosting Trinidad and Tobago at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, followed by Costa Rica welcoming in fellow Central American rival Panama at the Estadio Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica, CONCACAF said.
On Friday, it said Jamaica and Canada will duel at the National Stadium in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, while Honduras hosts Mexico at the Estadio Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa.
“No doubt that all the teams will be aiming for a strong performance in the first leg prior to the return legs the following Monday and Tuesday,” CONCACAF said.
League B
The battle for promotion in League B will be “hot and heavy across all four groups with so many decisive matches to be played,” CONCACAF said.
By the end of the weekend, CONCACAF said it will be known which team has won Group A to capture promotion to League A.
Saint Lucia and Guadeloupe are tied on nine points, with Guadeloupe one goal better on goal difference.
CONCACAF said Saint Lucia is at Saint Kitts and Nevis on Thursday and then home versus Sint Maarten on Sunday, while Guadeloupe travels to Sint Maarten on Thursday and then hosts Saint Kitts and Nevis on Sunday.
Group B sees Nicaragua with the advantage going into the final window, as they sit three points in front of the Dominican Republic.
If Dominican Republic drop points on Wednesday at Montserrat and Nicaragua wins at Barbados on Friday, Nicaragua clinches promotion, CONCACAF said.
It said it is a three-horse race in Group C, with French Guiana (7 points) a nose in front of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (6 pts) and Bermuda (5 pts).
CONCACAF said Bermuda hosts Vincy Heat on Friday to kick things off in a must-win match-up, while French Guiana will look to carry a lead atop the table into the final matchday with a full three points at Belize.
“Things are more straightforward in Group D, as Guyana sit on a six-point lead going into their final two matches,” CONCACAF said. “The Golden Jaguars only require a point in their Saturday visit to Bahamas to secure promotion to League A.”
League C
CONCACAF said League C also reaches its climax, adding that Thursday could be “a momentous day for British Virgin Islands, who can clinch promotion to League B if they can defeat Dominica at home in Group C.”
“It is a similar story in Group B, as promotion is there for the taking for Aruba, who can nail down their rise to League B with a victory at US Virgin Islands on Thursday,” CONCACAF said.
“Meanwhile, on Saturday, Bonaire can keep themselves in the mix in Group A with a win at Anguilla,” it added. “Bonaire are currently six points back of leaders Saint Martin. But if Anguilla earn a result on home soil, the group and promotion will belong to Saint Martin.”
FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup
CONCACAF said the 2023 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Indonesia continues for four teams from the Concacaf region: Mexico, United States, Canada and Panama.
“Mexico won the 2023 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship earlier this year and will be targeting their third U17 World Cup trophy,” CONCACAF said. “Mexico will look to bounce back from their opening defeat to Germany when they play against Venezuela on Wednesday and New Zealand on Saturday.”
CONCACAF said 2023 CMU17 runners-up United States defeated South Korea and now will target Burkina Faso on Wednesday before closing with France on Saturday.
Canada, who finished as semifinalists at the 2023 CMU17, will try to finish strong in their group stage finale versus Mali on Thursday, CONCACAF said.
It said Panama qualified for the 2023 U17 World Cup as a semifinalist in the 2023 CMU17 and will close out their group stage campaign against Ecuador on Thursday.
