The Senior Men’s National Team is currently in Costa Rica preparing for their opening fixture in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as they face Nicaragua on June 7.
Head coach Wayne Dover said the squad – which features top scorer Omari Glasgow who plays for the Chicago Fire – is focused on the upcoming game. The team, comprising both locally-based and overseas players, will play warm-up matches in Costa Rica as part of their preparations.
Ranked 159th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Golden Jaguars face a stern test against Nicaragua, currently ranked 137th. The host nation is the favourites going into the match, backed by home advantage and a more consistent track record in recent regional competitions.
The Central American side reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and their well-organised defence is expected to pose a considerable challenge.
The fixture marks the start of the second round of CONCACAF qualifiers, a stage featuring 30 teams all vying for a spot at the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The qualification journey began in March 2024 with a preliminary play-off involving the region’s four lowest-ranked nations. The British Virgin Islands and Anguilla emerged from that round to join the 28 other eligible CONCACAF nations (excluding the three hosts) in the second round.
Each team will play four matches – two at home and two away with only the top two sides from each of the six groups progressing to the third and final round.
Following the away match in Nicaragua, Guyana return home for an encounter against Montserrat on June 10 at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.
Looking ahead, the final round of CONCACAF qualifying is set for September, October and November. The 12 teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four, playing home-and-away matches. The winner of each group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Additionally, the two best runners-up will enter an intercontinental play-off tournament, giving CONCACAF the chance to send up to eight teams to the expanded World Cup for the first time.
