Road To W Gold Cup, Caribbean Cup headline week in CONCACAF
CONCACAF said on Monday that a busy week is on the docket this week, with the return of the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, the start of the Road To W Gold Cup and the start of the pivotal Olympic Play-Off between Jamaica and Canada.
This Wednesday marks the start of the Road To W Gold Cup, in which 34 teams will make up the qualifying tournament for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
“The chance to punch a direct ticket to the W Gold Cup is there for the taking for the nine teams in League A, and no doubt one of the crucial matches of the week will be the opening match of Group C when Haiti host Costa Rica,” CONCACAF said.
“The winner of this contest will put themselves in the driver’s seat to qualify for the W Gold Cup, so an exciting 90 minutes await in the Dominican Republic, the setting for Thursday’s encounter,” it added.
CONCACAF said both teams arrive into the match fresh off their respective participations in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
While neither side was able to advance past the group stage, CONCACAF said they displayed some very good football.
Haiti will be led by rising star and Lyon MF Melchie Dumornay, “who showed in the Women’s World Cup why she could become one of the best players in the sport in the next several years,” CONCACAF said.
“Dumornay’s speed, strength and playmaking ability will be a stern test for Costa Rica, who will look to counter with the likes of Melissa Herrera and Raquel Rodriguez,” it said.
Other key matches in play will be Mexico hosting Puerto Rico in Group A, while Guatemala and Panama will tangle in back-to-back games in Group B, CONCACAF said.
Caribbean Cup
The Caribbean Cup heads into its third of five weeks of action with a heavyweight battle in Group A between Cavalier of Jamaica and Dominican Republic side Moca on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica, CONCACAF said.
It said Cavalier sit atop the group with four points through two matches, scoring three goals from three different players, and will be leaning on the comforts of home to try to pick up another vital three points.
“Moca will certainly fancy their chances of getting a result, as they sit third in the group with three points after just one game. A victory for the visitors would be enough to catapult themselves into first place,” CONCACAF said.
It said another important match to keep an eye on will be the Group B affair on Wednesday between third place Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic and leaders Harbour View from Jamaica. Harbour View sit atop the group having only played one match.
Olympic Play-Off First Leg
CONCACAF said the stakes will be “massive” beginning on Friday night in Kingston, Jamaica, for the start of the Women’s Olympic Play-Off between Jamaica and Canada.
The first leg will be played on Friday, followed by the second leg in Toronto, Canada on Tuesday, Sept. 26, CONCACAF said.
“Not only does the winner of this Olympic Play-Off qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but they also clinch a spot in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup,” it said. “If Jamaica were to win the two-legged series, they would become the first ever Caribbean nation to qualify for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, CONCACAF said Canada is the defending Gold Medal champions from Tokyo 2020, “so they will be eager to have the opportunity to defend their crown.
“Even though Jamaica have never defeated Canada in nine all-time meetings, the Reggae Girlz will be feeling confident after making history at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they reached the knockout stage for the first time ever,” CONCACAF added.
