MIAMI, Florida – This Friday, 2024 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifying kicks off with 10 matches on the docket across all five groups.
The 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Qualifiers start this Friday! pic.twitter.com/KUAKu6gju3
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 20, 2024
Group A
The Estadio Nacional in Managua, Nicaragua, is the site for all the matches in Group A, beginning with Cuba taking on Anguilla, followed by host nation Nicaragua squaring off with British Virgin Islands.
Cuba are undefeated in two all-time Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifying matches with Anguilla, winning 7-0 in 1992 and 11-0 in 2007. Cuba appeared in the last previous CMU20 in 2022, while Anguilla have never participated in a CMU20.
Nicaragua’s journey to the CMU20 begins with a first-ever meeting with the British Virgin Islands. Nicaragua reached the Round of 16 of the 2022 CMU20, while BVI are hoping to reach a first-ever CMU.
Group B
The day will begin in Group B with El Salvador and Turks and Caicos Islands kicking things off at the ABFA Technical Centre in Piggots, Antigua and Barbuda.
El Salvador were in the last CMU20 in 2022 in reaching the Round of 16 and will be motivated to claim victory in their first ever CMU20 match with Turks and Caicos Islands. The Caribbean side have never participated in a CMU20.
The second match of the day in Group B pits hosts Antigua and Barbuda against Guyana. Antigua and Barbuda finished in the group stage of the 2022 CMU20 and will be out to thrill the home fans in their opener.
Guyana won the lone previous match-up between the two sides in 1998 and will be keen to return to their first CMU20 since 2018.
Group C
The Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala, is the venue for Group C and the day will start with Curacao clashing with Saint Martin. Curacao won the first two encounters between the two, in 2009 and then in 2020 Qualifying.
Curacao reached the Round of 16 in the 2022 CMU20, while Saint Martin’s last appearance was in 2018.
The nightcap should be an exciting one with hosts Guatemala taking the field against Barbados in a first-ever contest between the two nations.
Guatemala reached the semifinals of the 2022 CMU20 to secure a berth in the Under-20 Men’s World Cup, while Barbados last played in a CMU20 in 2018.
Group D
Group D at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, will feature Canada against Dominica in the opener. Canada were 4-0 victors in their only previous encounter in 2018.
Canada are two-time CMU20 champions and reached the Round of 16 in 2022, while Dominica last appeared in a CMU20 in 2018.
Host nation Trinidad and Tobago will take the field in the second match of the evening against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. There is plenty of history between the two, with the Soca Warriors winning all five matches against Vincy Heat.
Trinidad and Tobago made it to the Round of 16 in 2022, while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were group stage finishers in 2018.
Group E
The SKNFA Technical Center in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, will host the four teams in Group E, starting with Haiti versus Cayman Islands.
Haiti won their first and only match, a 5-0 final in 2017. Haiti finished in the Round of 16 at Honduras 2022, while Cayman Islands last competed in a CMU20 in 2018.
The group will then wrap up the day with hosts Saint Kitts and Nevis battling with Puerto Rico in a rematch of their only previous meeting in 1992 which ended in a 2-1 win for Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Both sides last appeared in a CMU20 in 2022, with Puerto Rico reaching the Round of 16 and Saint Kitts and Nevis finishing in the group stage.
