MIAMI.- After a brief pause, the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 returns Saturday with a six-match slate.
Turks and Caicos Islands faces Nicaragua in the first contest of the competition for either team. Veteran forward Billy Forbes headlines the TCI squad called in by Head Coach Omar Edwards, while Nicaragua boss Juan Vita also is able to lean on experience with Real Esteli duo Juan Barrera and Carlos Chavarria among players with WCQ minutes.
Anguilla also opens its WCQ campaign, taking on the Dominican Republic at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Head Coach Stern John brings in GK Ryan Liddie and midfielder Kapli Battice, but also is looking for production from younger players, including 16-year-old Roaring Lions DF Bakari Battice. The Dominican Republic opened qualifying with a 1-0 victory over Dominica thanks to a goal from Fran Nunez and will look to continue its undefeated start.
Guatemala also enjoyed a successful opening to WCQ, seeing off a challenge from Cuba, and now the Chapines head to Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curacao to meet the British Virgin Islands. BVI are seeking their first-ever win in World Cup qualification and a young midfield core and 18-year-old FW Tyler Forbes up top can show their best against the Central Americans.
Like their northern neighbors, the U.S. Virgin Islands also are beginning WCQ on Saturday, welcoming Antigua and Barbuda. The Benna Boys got goals from Eugene Kirwan and D’Andre Bishop in a draw with Montserrat on Wednesday and now will look for all three points, rather than another stalemate or a defeat.
Saint Kitts and Nevis travel to Nassau, Bahamas hoping to build on a 1-0 victory against Puerto Rico to open Group F play. The Bahamas, promoted to League B in the Nations League and debuting in WCQ, are led by all-time leading scorer Lesly St. Fleur and Happy Hall.
The Dutch language may be in the air at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, with Aruba and interim manager Stanley Menzo squaring off against Suriname. Suriname topped the Cayman Islands 3-0 in the first match and are set to welcome FW Florian Jozefzoon, FW Diego Biseswar and MF Tjaronn Chery to the squad.
