Action from the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying play-in, first-leg match between host French Guiana and Honduras (white jersey) on March 25, 2015, in Remire-Montjoly. (Photo: Jody Amiet)
MIAMI – For the sixth time, a play-in (or qualifying playoff as it has also been termed) for a CONCACAF Gold Cup berth will be contested, when Haiti and Nicaragua square off in a two-legged, total-goals series next month.
On Friday, a draw determined that the Haitians will host the first leg on March 24, 2017, with the action shifting to Nicaragua on March 28, 2017.
Haiti has qualified for the Gold Cup on six occasions, while Nicaragua is looking for a second appearance and first since 2009.
Both sides were handed the lifeline following fifth-place finishes in their respective regional qualifying competitions.
Haiti earned a spot in the play-in after topping the table of the three-team 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men's Caribbean Cup fifth-place playoff, while Nicaragua finished fifth out of six teams in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana.
Here’s a look at previous Gold Cup qualifying playoffs:
1997 (for 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
October 4, 1997: Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis 0, Cuba 2
Qualifier: Cuba
1999 (for 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
October 6, 1999: Los Angeles, California, USA
Canada 0, Cuba 0
El Salvador 1, Haiti 1
October 8, 1999: Los Angeles, California, USA
Canada 2, El Salvador 1
Cuba 0, Haiti 1
October 10, 1999: Los Angeles, California, USA
Canada 2, Haiti 1
Cuba 3, El Salvador 1
Qualifiers: Canada, Haiti
2001 (for 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
July 29, 2001: Panama City, Panama
Panama 0, Cuba 0
August 1, 2001: Panama City, Panama
Cuba 1, Panama 0
Qualifier: Cuba
2003 (for 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
April 23, 2003: Fort-de-France, Martinique
Martinique 3, Trinidad & Tobago 2
April 25, 2003: Fort-de-France, Martinique
Trinidad & Tobago 0, Honduras 2
April 27, 2003: Fort-de-France, Martinique
Honduras 4, Martinique 2
Qualifiers: Honduras, Martinique
2015 (for 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup)
March 25, 2015: Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana
French Guiana 3, Honduras 1
March 29, 2015: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Honduras 3, French Guiana 0
Qualifier: Honduras
