The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than a year away from the opening match in Mexico’s Estadio Azteca, kicking off the first FIFA World Cup that will be hosted by three nations.
After Canada, the United States and Mexico qualified as host nations, 12 nations remain fighting it out for three automatic qualifying positions. Below are all four teams in Group A and their form heading into the final qualification stage.
Panama
Panama are strong favourites to qualify for what would be only their second FIFA World Cup.
Their only previous appearance came in 2018, when they placed second in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying, behind Costa Rica, and thus qualified for the final round, known as the ‘Hexagonal’.
Due to the United States losing away to Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of the ‘Hexagonal’, and Honduras’ 3-2 win over Mexico not being enough, Panama snatched the final qualification spot.
They were placed in group G, however, placed as the worst team in the tournament, losing 3-0 to Belgium in their first-ever World Cup game, 6-1 to England and a narrow 2-1 loss to Tunisia in the final group match.
Los Canaleros, which translates to the Canal Men, is ranked as the 33rd-best team in the world and is managed by former Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen. Christiansen was appointed in 2020.
Panama has been in incredible form. In last year’s Copa America held in the United States, Christiansen’s side finished second in the group, placing above and knocking out Bolivia and the United States.
More recently, Panama, also on US soil, reached the final of the Concacaf Nations League, beating Costa Rica in the quarter-finals over two legs and the United States in the semi-final.
This came through a 90+4th minute strike-through Cecilio Waterman, who is the striker for Chilean league leaders Coquimbo Unido.
El Salvador
El Salvador have qualified for the FIFA World Cup in two editions, in 1970 and 1982. In both editions, they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament.
Los Cuscatlecos are currently ranked as the 81st-best side in the world. They qualified for the final round after finishing as the runners-up in Group F, behind Suriname.
That being said, Los Cuscatlecos are in good form, going unbeaten in their last five matches, scoring in each match. Albeit, this is to weaker opposition.
They are under the management of 69-year-old Hernán Gomez, who was appointed by the El Salvador Football Association earlier this year.
Gomez has formerly managed other national teams such as his home nation of Colombia between 1995-1998 and 2010-2011, Ecuador between 1999-2004 and 2018-2019 and Honduras between 2021-2022.
He was also the manager for Panama between 2014-2018, where he led Los Canaleros to their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
Los Cuscatlecos will compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer, in Group B alongside the 2026 World Cup co-host nations Canada, Honduras and Curacao.
Guatemala
Guatemala is the 106th best-ranked nation according to the FIFA Men’s World Rankings and is aiming to qualify for its first-ever FIFA World Cup.
Despite never qualifying for a previous tournament, La Furia Azul has reached the final round of qualification on four occasions. They have also qualified for the Gold Cup 20 times, winning it once in 1967.
Guatemala is managed by Luis Fernando Tena, the former Mexican caretaker manager in 2013. Tena has also managed top Mexican sides such as C.D. Guadalajara, Club América and Cruz Azul on four occasions.
La Furia Azul finished third in Group A Round 1 of the CONCACAF Nations League, placing behind Costa Rica and Suriname, with the latter they were level on points.
In their last five matches in all competitions, Guatemala have only won twice.
They are in Group C of the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, in a group containing Jamaica, Panama and Guadeloupe, who are unbeaten in four of their last five matches.
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Suriname
Suriname is the second-lowest-ranked side left in the final stage of qualification according to the FIFA Men’s World Rankings.
The nation, which competes within the North American football confederation despite being situated within the continent of South America, is ranked as the 137th best ranked side in the world, just below Botswana and the Central African Republic.
They are managed by Stanley Menzo, a former goalkeeper who spent a decade at Ajax, appearing in more than 300 official matches for the club.
Within this spell, Menzo won nine major honours. He also represented the Netherlands in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1992, albeit failed to make an appearance.
This is Menzo’s second spell managing Suriname, returning to “De Natio” in 2024 after a short spell managing Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.
Suriname has been in great form, finishing top of Group F in CONCACAF’s second qualifying round, winning three games and drawing one. They even finished above El Salvador, the 81st-best-ranked team in the world.
On top of this, Suriname finished second in the CONCACAF Nations League, just behind World Cup ever-present Costa Rica. Despite this, they lost 4-0 on aggregate to Canada who have been in fantastic form following the appointment of Jesse Marsch.
That being said, “De Natio” has been in fantastic form recently. They will compete in the Gold Cup this summer alongside Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic in Group A.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Newscom World
Recording Date: 16.06.2025