Concacaf Nations League reaches crucial stage with Final Four slots and Gold Cup qualification at stake

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October 24 – Concacaf has confirmed the venues and dates for the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals in November that will qualify the four semi-finalists for the March 2025 finals at Hollywood Park’s SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Mexico, Canada, USA and Panama – the four top-ranked Concacaf nations – have been seeded into the semi-finals and will meet group qualifiers Honduras, Suriname, Jamaica and Costa Rica.

The US open their quarter final away to Jamaica in what will be the first competitive test of new coach Mauricio Pochettino’s management after a miserable friendly against Mexico that saw the Mexicans end five years of failure against the US with a 2-0 win.

The US have won all three of the Nations League titles that have been played. In Jamaica they have a motivated opponent under the new management of another former Premier League boss Steve McClaren who has an array of Premier League talent at his disposal.

In their last match-up the Jamaicans drew 1-1 with the US in a Gold Cup group game in 2023, a match in which they wasted chance after chance. They are unlikely to be as profligate again.

Pochettino has high expectations to progress his team to the finals, not just for the title but as preparation for the home hosted World Cup in 2026. He would likely have preferred an easier opening.

Mexico, who also have a new coach with Javier Aguirre taking charge for the third time, are defending Gold Cup champions but have struggled in the Nations League, losing twice to the US in the final and once in the semi-final. They open against Honduras who have been looking to regain the form that saw them qualify for the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

Panama open away to Costa Rica in what looks like an evenly matched tie. Panama were beaten finalists at the 2023 Gold Cup, losing to Mexico, and they have strengthened since then but need all their players fit. Costa Rica are rebuilding after the retirement of a golden generation of players and are showing signs of making progress having easily topped their group. They have only qualified for the Nations League final four once in 2021.

In the remaining quarter final Canada are hot favourites to overcome Suriname after a strong campaign in the Copa America this summer.

Under Jesse Marsche the Canadians look to be fulfilling on their talent that to date has failed to win them a trophy though saw them make the Nations League final in 2023.

While focus is on the quarter finals, there is a lot at stake in the remainder of the Nations League fixtures with League B qualifying group winners and runners-up (eight teams) for the Gold Cup, and four two-legged play-in ties for the Gold Cup preliminary rounds.

Full Nations League fixture schedule, November:

Thursday, November 14, 2024 (B) 15:00 | 14:00 Montserrat vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, SLV (PI) 18:00 | 19:00 Saint Kitts and Nevis vs Cuba – SKNFA Technical Center, Basseterre, SKN (A) 20:00 | 20:00 Jamaica vs USA – National Stadium, Kingston, JAM (B) 20:00 | 19:00 Bonaire vs El Salvador – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, SLV (PI) 20:00 | 19:00 Belize vs French Guiana – FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ (A) 21:00 | 20:00 Costa Rica vs Panama – Estadio Nacional, San Jose, CRC

Friday, November 15, 2024 (B) 15:00 | 16:00 Saint Lucia vs Grenada – Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, CUW (PI) 15:00 | 15:00 Cayman Islands vs Guadeloupe – Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, CAY (B) 18:00 | 19:00 Saint Martin vs Curacao – Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, CUW (B) 18:00 | 17:00 Puerto Rico vs Aruba – Estadio Centroamericano, Mayagüez, PUR (PI) 18:00 | 19:00 Barbados vs Guyana – Barbados FA Technical Center, Bridge Town, BRB (A) 18:30 | 20:30 Suriname vs Canada – Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR (A) 21:00 | 20:00 Honduras vs Mexico – Estadio Francisco Morazan, San Pedro Sula, HON (B) 21:00 | 20:00 Sint Maarten vs Haiti – Estadio Centroamericano, Mayagüez, PUR

Saturday, November 16, 2024 (B) 16:00 | 17:00 Bermuda vs Antigua and Barbuda – Estadio Cibao, Santiago, DOM (B) 19:00 | 20:00 Dominica vs Dominican Republic – Estadio Cibao, Santiago, DOM

Sunday, November 17, 2024 (B) 15:00 | 14:00 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs Bonaire – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, SLV (B) 20:00 | 19:00 El Salvador vs Montserrat – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, SLV

Monday, November 18, 2024 (B) 15:00 | 16:00 Grenada vs Saint Martin – Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, CUW (PI) 15:00 | 15:00 Cuba vs Saint Kitts and Nevis – Estadio Antonio Maceo, Santiago, CUB (B) 18:00 | 19:00 Curacao vs Saint Lucia – Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, CUW (B) 18:00 | 17:00 Aruba vs Sint Maarten – Estadio Centroamericano, Mayagüez, PUR (A) 20:00 | 19:00 USA vs Jamaica – CITYPARK, St. Louis, MO, USA (A) 21:00 | 21:00 Panama vs Costa Rica – Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama City, PAN (B) 21:00 | 20:00 Haiti vs Puerto Rico – Estadio Centroamericano, Mayagüez, PUR

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 (B) 16:00 | 17:00 Antigua and Barbuda vs Dominica – Estadio Cibao, Santiago, DOM (PI) 17:00 | 18:00 Guadeloupe vs Cayman Islands – Stade Roger Zami, Le Gosier, GLP (PI) 18:00 | 20:00 French Guiana vs Belize – Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR (B) 19:00 | 20:00 Dominican Republic vs Bermuda – Estadio Cibao, Santiago, DOM (PI) 19:00 | 20:00 Guyana vs Barbados – National Track & Field Centre, Leonora, GUY (A) 19:30 | 19:30 Canada vs Suriname – BMO Field, Toronto, CAN (A) 21:30 | 20:30 Mexico vs Honduras – Estadio Nemesio Diez, Toluca, MEX

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1729749997labto1729749997ofdlr1729749997owedi1729749997sni@n1729749997osloh1729749997cin.l1729749997uap1729749997

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