MIAMI – The 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship concludes with the final and third place matches on Saturday at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragua.
Cuba and Panama will meet in the championship match, with the winning nation will lift the trophy for the first time. Costa Rica, champions for the past three editions, will meet Guatemala in the third-place game.
All four teams, Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala have earned their place in the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup, a privilege they gained by reaching the semifinals.
Costa Rica vs. Guatemala
Costa Rica will look to leave the tournament with a medal for a fourth consecutive occasion. Champions in 2000, 2012, 2016, and 2021, the Ticos missed out on this year’s final on penalty kicks.
Minor Cabalceta leads Costa Rica’s attacking output with four goals. Of the remaining teams, Costa Rica has the stingiest defense with 11 goals throughout the tournament with Cesar Vargas shining as one of the key figures.
Guatemala, a team consistently performing well in the Concacaf Futsal Championship, can accomplish something never done before. After winning in 2008, they finished runners-up in 2012 and won the third-place match in 2016 and 2021. They are now aiming to make it five straight tournaments with a medal.
Guatemala boasts the best offense in the tournament with 27 goals. Roberto Alvarado is the co-leader in the Golden Boot race with seven goals, alongside Dominican Republic’s David Rondon. His teammate Marvin Sandoval is also in contention for the scorer's trophy with six to his name.
Cuba vs. Panama
Cuba came close to winning the tournament on four consecutive occasions: 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. The nation last came close in 2016 when it reached the semifinals.
Jonathan Hernandez leads Cuba with five goals. His hat-trick in the final group stage match helped secure a spot in the knockout round, where he scored the opening goal in the quarterfinals.
Panama returns to the Futsal Championship Final for the second time in three editions. The Canaleros played in the championship match in 2016 but lost to Costa Rica.
Abdiel Ortiz leads the team with six goals and is a contender to win the Golden Boot. Ortiz has scored in every game except the quarterfinal, including an insurance goal in second extra time to deny a Guatemala comeback in the semifinals.
Cuba edges Panama in Group B
Cuba outlasted Panama for a 3-2 victory. Jonathan Hernandez broke the deadlock in the 18’ with a right-footed hit into the top netting. Hernandez hit a mirror image of his first goal, scoring with his left foot in the 21’, to extend Cuba’s lead.
Abdiel Ortiz responded for Panama in the 33’ to bring the game within one. Aquiles Campos scored a dramatic equalizer in the 39’. Hernandez would respond with his third goal 15 seconds later to win it for Cuba.
Hernández sella la victoria de Cuba con un marcador de 3-2 contra Panamá. pic.twitter.com/mkn1y9l3PX
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) April 16, 2024
