El Salvador vs United States
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 27: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States during a FIFA World Cup qualifier game between Panama and USMNT at Exploria Stadium on March 27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Will the United States continue the defence of their CONCACAF Nations League title with another victory?
On Friday night, Gregg Berhalter’s team began this campaign against Grenada in Austin, running out comfortable 5-0 winners.
Jesús Ferreira scoring four times at Q2 Stadium, just the fifth USMNT player to achieve this, while Paul Arriola was the other to net.
This means the Stars and Stripes have now won six of seven Nations League games, lifting the trophy with victory over Mexico last summer.
Given that the U.S. only drew 0-0 when they last visited San Salvador in World Cup qualifying in September, this’ll be a much tougher assignment.
El Salvador currently sit top of this group after their two matches against Grenada earlier on this month.
Like USA, El Salvador swatted aside Grenada at home, winning 3-1, but needed a last-gasp Cristian Gil equaliser to leave St George’s with a point.
La Selecta won promotion from League B in 2019, winning five of six games, before ending up second bottom in World Cup qualifying.
Nevertheless, Hugo Pérez’s side have only lost three of their last 16 competitive home games, so are hopeful of a result in this one.
Will the United Staes leave Estadio Cuscatlán with all three points?
Jamaica vs Mexico
SOCHI, RUSSIA – JUNE 29: Hirving Lozano of Mexico in action during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Semi-Final between Germany and Mexico at Fisht Olympic Stadium on June 29, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Will Mexico make it two wins out of two in this new CONCACAF Nations League season?
On Saturday, el Tri got their campaign up and running by hammering Suriname 3-0 at Estadio Corona.
Israel Reyes, Henry Martín and Érick Sánchez on target in Torreón, making Marcelo Flores’ late penalty miss a mere footnote.
Despite this, don’t be fooled, the mood around Tata Martino’s men is not universally a positive one just now.
El Tri were beaten in the finals of both the Nations League and Gold Cup last summer, both by USA, before finishing second in World Cup qualifying.
So, there are concerns they could exit a World Cup in the first round for the first time since 1978 with Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in their group.
In the Nations League though, Mexico have won all five group games to date, scoring 16 and conceding just three.
However, if last summer’s runners-up in this competition are to come unstuck in this group, it’s most likely to happen in this clash in Kingston.
Jamaica faced Suriname twice earlier this month, held to a 1-1 draw in Paramaribo, before a thumping 3-1 victory back at home
Ravel Morrison, Junior Flemmings and Jamal Lowe all on target in the latter.
The Reggae Boyz won promotion from League B in 2019, amassing 16 points from six games, before finishing sixth in World Cup qualifying.
Having also been runners-up in the Gold Cups of 2015 and 2017, Jamaica continue to be amongst strongest teams in the CONCACAF region.
Now, can Paul Hall’s team cause a big upset at Independence Park?
Haiti vs Guyana
Will Haiti extend their lead at the top of Group B after sending out a formal statement of intent on Saturday night.
At the weekend, these two teams met in Leonora with Haiti running out 6-2 winners, thereby capturing first place in this section.
There was seven goals in the first half alone with Dany Jean, Steeven Saba, Carnejy Antoine and Derrick Etienne Jr. all on target for the visitors.
Emery Welshman and Nathan Moriah-Welsh did get on the Guyanese scoresheet before, in a quieter second period, Fredler Christophe secured a 6-2 away win.
In this group, Haiti now have seven points having drawn 0-0 in Bermuda before a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Montserrat.
Les Grenadiers were relegated from the Nations League’s top-tier in 2019, drawing three of four games, aiming for an instantaneous return.
If le Rouge et Bleu do win the group, they’ll also qualify for next summer’s Gold Cup.
This is the minimum expectation given that they’ve appeared at six of the last eight editions, surprisingly getting all the way to the semi-finals in 2019.
Guyana meanwhile had began this group with back-to-back wins, both 2-1, before that drubbing at the weekend.
The Golden Jaguars made their Gold Cup debut three summers ago, losing to Guatemala in the last summer’s Preliminary Round.
This is a key game in the race for promotion, so will there be a winner at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez?
Bermuda vs Montserrat
After playing out a five-goal thriller at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez on Saturday, Bermuda and Montserrat go head-to-head again.
Montserrat led twice in that game, through Lyle Taylor and Adrian Clifton, only for Willie Clemons and then Nahki Wells to equalise each time.
Nevertheless, Bermuda were unable to answer a third time when Taylor made it 3-2 with just five minutes to go, snatching a 3-2 victory.
Will the rematch in Devonshire Parish be just as engrossing?
This win saw Montserrat leap off the bottom of Group B having started with back-to-back defeats, 2-1 against Guyana and 3-2 in Haiti.
The Emerald Boys amassed eight points in their League B group three years ago before falling in the Gold Cup Preliminary round.
Now, in a very competitive group, they’re just looking to preserve their status at this level.
Bermuda meanwhile replaced them at the foot of the table; their only point in the first half of the campaign came at home to Haiti.
The Gombey Warriors made their Gold Cup debut in 2019 and only missed out on the last edition following a Prelim final defeat in Miami.
Now though, Kyle Lightbourne’s side are firmly in a relegation battle with this a key contest against their direct rivals.
Will either claim three huge points at Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre?
French Guinea vs Belize
DENVER, CO – JUNE 06: The Trophy of Championship is displayed during the CONCACAF Nations League Championship Final between United States and Mexico at Empower Field At Mile High on June 6, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Will surprise leaders of Group D French Guinea be just as excellent in the second half of this campaign?
So far, les Yana Dòkòs have seven points on the board, starting with back-to-back wins before a 1-1 draw last Thrsday.
Horace Avila broke the deadlock for Belize in that one in Belmopan, but Joel Sarrucco did ensure French Guinea left with a point.
Thierry De Neef’s team finished second in their League B group in 2019, but are targeting promotion up to the top-tier this time round.
French Guinea though are just three points above both Guatemala and Dominican Republic, who meet on Monday, so know victory is a must.
If they do cling onto top spot, this’ll see them qualify for the Gold Cup for just the second time ever, so there’s plenty to play for.
As for Belize, they actually began with back-to-back defeats before mustering that surprise draw in the reverse fixture.
The Jaguars though have now only won two of nine Nations League games, only winning five of their last 23 competitive outings.
So, back at Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama, French Guinea should be victories in this one.
Turks and Caicos Islands vs Sint Maarten
Will Sint Maarten keep their promotion hopes alive with a victory in Providenciales?
So far, Elvis Albertus’ side are unbeaten in this season’s CONCACAF Nations League, kicking off with back-to-back draws.
Then, in Saturday night’s reverse fixture, they demolished Turks and Caicos Islands 8-2 in Willemstad.
Gerwin Lake scoring four times in an extraordinary victory, with Sergio Hughes, Kay Gerritsen and Kymani Jacobs also all on target.
Unsurprisingly, this was Sint Maarten’s biggest-ever victory, hoping for something similar as the two teams go head-to-head again.
Turks and Caicos Islands are the only team in the Nations League’s bottom-tier yet to pick up a point, losing 4-1, 3-2 and then, as mentioned 8-2.
Amazingly, this is only their seventh-heaviest defeat of all time, conceding double figures three times in the last four years, including an 11-0 against Cuba.
More bizarrely, Turks and Caicos Islands won twice in the inaugural Nations League season, beating Sint Maarten home and away.
Now though, the visitors will be targeting another heavy win, this time at TCIFA National Academy.
Bonaire vs U.S. Virgin Islands
The other game in League C Group A takes place in Willemstad with Bonaire looking to hold onto top spot.
They beat U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 in Saint Croix on Saturday thanks to a pair of quick-fire late goals from Ayrton Cicilia and then Christopher Isenia.
This means Bonaire have seven points to their name, previously beating Turks and Caicos Islands 4-1 before a 2-2 draw against Sint Maarten.
In all, Brian van den Bergh’s team have only lost one of seven Nations League outings, targeting promotion up to League B.
U.S. Virgin Islands meanwhile were unbeaten before the reverse fixture, first drawing with Sint Maarten before a 3-2 victory over Turks and Caicos.
The latter was just the Dashing Eagles’ second-ever Nations League victory having previously beaten Saint Martin in 2019.
Here, Bonaire are big favourites to win at Stadion Rignaal Jean Francisca.
