Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras headline start of Gold Cup Prelims | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims will officially get underway with the first leg encounters on Friday.

Fourteen teams will be competing for the final seven berths in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. After home-and-away play, the winner in each matchup will qualify for the Group Stage of the competition.

Belize vs. Costa Rica

Belize and Costa Rica face off at FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize.

The meeting presents the third-ever encounter between the nations in Gold Cup qualifying matches and the seventh overall in their history, with Costa Rica winning the six previous matchups.

Belize arrives at the Prelims in search of advancing to the competition for a second time after recording a perfect record with four wins in Group B in Nations League C play and subsequently defeating French Guiana 3-2 on aggregate in the Play-In Round.

Midfielder Jordy Polanco was one of the main men for the Jaguars in their 2024/25 Nations League campaign, tallying four goals in six appearances.

Costa Rica has an eye on a 17th Gold Cup appearance following a first-place finish in Group A in Nations League A and falling short against Panama in a hard-fought series in the quarterfinals.

Francisco Calvo, who contributed two goals in Nations League play, and forward Manfred Ugalde, who recorded two assists, will be amongst the players to watch from Los Ticos.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Jamaica

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will welcome Jamaica to the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will strive to make history by qualifying for the Gold Cup for a second time. The Vincy Heat comes from League B, where they finished second in Group A with 12 points and a record of 4W-1D-1L. Midfielder Diel Spring and attacker Cornelius Stewart impressed in CNL action, contributing four goals and three assists respectively.

Jamaica topped Group B in League A with eight points and a 2W-2D-0L unbeaten record before falling against the USA in the quarterfinals. The Reggae Boyz will aim to secure a berth in the competition for the 14th time in their history.

Jamaica will look to its pool of talented players to advance to the Gold Cup, including the likes of experienced goalkeeper Andre Blake, and star attackers Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray.

The meeting will be the second between the nations in Gold Cup qualifying fixtures. History favors Jamaica in the overall series, having won seven of the nine matches between the two teams. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has claimed a win, while the other meeting resulted in a draw.

Bermuda vs. Honduras

Bermuda will host Honduras at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire, Bermuda.

The encounter is just the second in their history, with Los Catrachos claiming the win in the previous meeting.

Bermuda comes to the Prelims from League B, where it finished second in Group D with a total 12 points and a 4W-0D-2L record. The Gombey Warriors have the objective of securing a berth in the competition for a second time in their history.

Honduras finished second in Group B in League A play and will be in search of securing a 17th Gold Cup appearance for the team.

Guyana vs. Guatemala

Guyana will take on Guatemala at the BFA Technical Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The two teams coincided in the same group in the recent Nations League A. Guatemala ultimately finished third in Group A and advanced directly to the Prelims, while Guyana placed sixth and subsequently featured in the Play-In Round.

Guatemala claimed the win in the meeting between the sides in Nations League group play, securing a 3-1 result on the road. Stephen Duke-McKenna (31’) scored for Guyana, while Guatemala’s goals came from Óscar Santís (17’, 68’) and Óscar Castellanos (61’).

Guyana will eye a return to the Gold Cup following its debut in 2019. The Golden Warriors arrive at the Prelims after winning 9-4 against Barbados on aggregate in the Play-In Round. Omari Glasgow and Osaze De Rosario led Guyana in goals in the 2024/25 Nations League with four each, while Nathan Moriah-Welsh led the team in assists with two.

Los Chapines are targeting a spot in the Gold Cup for the 13th time in their history.

The meeting will be the overall fifth between the nations in their history, with Guatemala claiming wins in all previous encounters.

Cuba vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago will meet at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago, Cuba.

The nations meet in their eighth meeting in Gold Cup qualifying matches and 25th overall. Trinidad and Tobago leads their series with 14 wins to six for Cuba.

The nations recently faced off twice in Group B of Nations League A. The first meeting resulted in a 2-2 draw, with Trinidad and Tobago winning 3-1 the following match.

Cuba made it to the Prelims after overcoming Saint Kitts and Nevis 5-2 in the Play-In Round and are in search of an 11th Gold Cup appearance.

The Socca Warriors earned a direct spot in the Prelims after placing fourth in Group B of League A. Trinidad and Tobago previously made 12 appearances in the Gold Cup and is seeking to qualify for a fourth consecutive edition.

Suriname vs. Martinique

Suriname will host Martinique at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname in what presents the 14th all-time encounter between the nations. Martinique leads the series with six wins, while Suriname has won twice.

Both sides arrive after coinciding in Group A in Nations League A. They did not face each other despite being in the same group, with Suriname ultimately finishing second and Martinique coming in fourth place as both teams advanced directly to the Prelims.

Suriname will eye a return to the competition after making its first-ever Gold Cup appearance in 2021. Virgil Misidjan, with two goals, and Denzel Jubitana, with two assists, were the team leaders in the 2024/25 Nations League campaign.

Martinique, on the other hand, has previously qualified for the Gold Cup eight times and will want to secure a fifth consecutive berth.

Guadeloupe vs. Nicaragua

Guadeloupe and Nicaragua will play at Stade Roger Zami in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe in what will be the second-ever matchup in their history. Guadeloupe secured the win in the only previous meeting.

Guadeloupe arrives at the Prelims intending to make it to the Gold Cup for a sixth time in their history after finishing fourth in Group A in League A. Les Gwada Boys, whose best finishes at the competition saw the team reach the semifinals in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2009, are looking for a third consecutive participation.

Nicaragua finished third in Group B in Nations League A and has the objective of returning to the Gold Cup for the first time since the 2019 edition to record a fourth appearance in the competition.