In a night of high drama across North and Central America and the Caribbean, three nations officially booked their tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while two others kept their dreams alive for a few more months. The final matchday of the 2025 CONCACAF qualification round concluded with historic achievements and heart-stopping moments as all matches were played simultaneously.
Historic Qualification For Caribbean Nations
The biggest stories of the night emerged from the Caribbean, where Curaçao and Haiti secured their places in the global football showcase. Curaçao made history by becoming the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for a World Cup, a record previously held by Iceland from the 2018 tournament. They achieved this feat by holding Jamaica to a 0-0 draw at Independence Park, also known as 'The Office'.
Meanwhile, Haiti ended a 52-year World Cup drought by defeating Nicaragua 2-0. Due to security concerns at home, the Haitian team played their 'home' match in Curaçao, adding a layer of fate to their monumental achievement. Their last World Cup appearance was in 1974.
Panama's Triumph And Playoff Drama
In Group A, Panama sealed their qualification with a commanding 3-0 victory over El Salvador. Their path was secured after Guatemala defeated Suriname 3-1, a result that allowed Los Canaleros to leapfrog Suriname for the top spot. This will be only Panama's second-ever World Cup appearance, following their debut in 2018.
Despite their loss, Suriname clinched the top inter-confederation playoff spot. They will be joined by Jamaica, whose draw against Curaçao was enough to secure the second playoff berth from the CONCACAF region.
What Comes Next?
The qualification sets the stage for the next phase of the journey. Panama, Curaçao, and Haiti will hear their names called at the official World Cup draw on December 5. For Jamaica and Suriname, the fight continues. They will now enter the inter-confederation playoff in Mexico next March, where they will face:
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Bolivia
- Iraq
- New Caledonia
This outcome marks a massive success for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), whose member nations secured four of the five available CONCACAF slots—three direct qualifications and one playoff spot.
