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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Second round looms for Concacaf's World Cup 26 aspirants

Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, and Panama are among the 30 sides battling for 12 tickets to the third round

The second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying begins on Thursday, with 30 teams vying for 12 spots in the third round. The teams will be divided into six groups of five, with the top two teams from each group advancing. The third round will see the 12 teams divided into three groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Among the teams in contention are Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, and Panama. Costa Rica has qualified for the past three World Cups, while Honduras has qualified for the past two. Jamaica and Panama have each qualified for one World Cup, in 1998 and 2018, respectively.

The qualifying matches will be played over a period of two years, with the final round scheduled to be completed in March 2026. The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 8 to July 3, 2026.