Return of CONCACAF Nations League leads week

CONCACAF said on Monday that the resumption of the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League headlines the week in CONCACAF, with players shifting their focus toward their respective national teams.

Here are some of the matches to watch this week in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League October window.

League A

CONCACAF said the journey to the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals continues for the 12 teams in Groups A and B of League A, with the ultimate goal being a top-two finish and a crack at qualifying for the 2024 Copa America.

Among the highlighted matches in this October window in Group A is a Friday match-up between Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

CONCACAF said the Caribbean nation was the only side from League A to have won both matches during the September window, “and they can take a big step toward the quarterfinals with a full three points against a Guatemala side in third-place in the group with four points.

“Group B is as tight as it gets, with all six teams separated by just three points,” it said. “One of the marquee match-ups pits second-place Cuba (four points) against third-place Honduras (four points) in the Dominican Republic on Thursday night.”

CONCACAF said Sunday night will see a rematch in Trinidad and Tobago between Jamaica and Haiti after their thrilling 2-2 draw in Kingston, Jamaica during the September window.

Jamaica enters the window in first-place in the group with four points, while Haiti is lurking in fourth-place with two points, CONCACAF said.

League B

The 16 teams in League B will also be back for another two matches each, as the goal of promotion to League A starts to take shape.

CONCACAF said fans of St. Lucia and Guadeloupe will need to “buckle up”, as these two teams, each with six points in Group A, face off on Thursday in St. Lucia and then again on Sunday in Guadeloupe.

It is a similar story in Group D in which Puerto Rico and Guyana head up the group with six points each and will play each other twice, with both matches taking place in St. Kitts and Nevis beginning on Saturday, CONCACAF said.

It said those two teams also boast the top two goal scorers in League B, with Guyana’s Omari Glasgow having four goals to his name, the same number scored by Puerto Rico’s Gerald Diaz.

League C

CONCACAF said there is another “intriguing slate of games” among the nine teams in League C, with one of the more notable contests on Thursday in St. Lucia in Group C between Dominica and British Virgin Islands.

“Each team won their lone match in the September window, so first place will be on the line in this one,” CONCACAF said.

It said Aruba heads up Group B with three points, “but on the hunt is US Virgin Islands (USVI) with one point.”

CONCACAF said these two sides will get together on Saturday in Aruba.

“A win for the hosts would go a long way to their promotion mission, while USVI could catapult into first place with a victory,” it said.