MIAMI. - The penultimate window of the final round of FIFA World Cup qualification in the Concacaf region kicks off on Thursday, with a quartet of matches critical to teams’ hopes of making it to Qatar 2022 at the end of this year.

Jamaica vs. Mexico

Jamaica hosts Mexico in the teams’ second meeting of the final round. Jamaica will be looking for its first victory over El Tricolor in World Cup qualification in more than 13 years since Ricardo Fuller’s goal in the third round of the road to South Africa 2010 gave the Reggae Boyz a 1-0 victory on Oct. 11, 2008.

Mexico has gotten attacking contributions from all over, with 11 different goal scorers in qualification, but no player yet finding the back of the net multiple times for Head Coach Gerardo Martino. Wolverhampton forward Raul Jimenez and Jesus “Tecatito” Corona, who recently joined Sevilla, all will try to double their goal tally at Independence Park, otherwise known as “The Office”, in Kingston.

Paul Hall will make his debut as Jamaica manager in an official match and gets a boost with Ethan Pinnock and Liam Moore set to return in the Jamaica defense and Daniel Johnson returning to midfield. FW Michail Antonio also is available up top after scoring in both November matches, though Leon Bailey misses out with an injury.

Match Officials 

  • R: Ismael Cornejo SLV
  • AR1 Juan Francisco Zumba SLV
  • AR2 Jose Mangandis SLV
  • 4th Official Walter Lopez
  • VAR Allen Chapman USA
  • AVAR Carol Anne Chenard CAN

USA vs. El Salvador

After a scoreless draw to open qualification, the United States once again meets El Salvador, this time welcoming La Selecta to Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

The 0-0 result back in September kept the United States’ undefeated record against El Salvador in World Cup qualification intact.

Former U.S. player Hugo Perez was the first goal scorer in the qualification series, scoring one of his two goals against El Salvador in 1989 on the way to Italy 1990. Now serving as El Salvador manager, Perez will hope Jairo Henriquez, the leading scorer for El Salvador in qualification with a pair of goals, Joaquin Rivas, and the rest of the El Salvador attack can cope with both the cold of Columbus and the North Americans’ defense.

The U.S. will counter with FW Ricardo Pepi, whose three goals thus far in qualification helped earn him a move to German side Augsburg this winter, while Brenden Aaronson has two scores to his name. A result would be the first in qualification on U.S. soil for El Salvador since Nov. 5, 1989, when the squads fought to a scoreless draw at Saint Louis Soccer Park.

Match Officials

  • R: Bryan Lopez GUA
  • AR1 Humberto Panjoj GUA
  • AR2 Juan Tipaz GUA
    4th Official Sergio Reyna GUA
  • VAR Marco Ortiz MEX
  • AVAR Tatiana Guzman NCA

    Honduras vs. Canada

Honduras welcomes Canada to the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano looking to extend a five-match home unbeaten streak in World Cup qualification. Canada’s only victory came more than 36 years ago in 1985, but plenty has changed since then.

Canada currently sits atop the table in World Cup qualification, standing as the only undefeated team. But it is making its first trip to Central America of the final round and will do so without Alphonso Davies, the assists leader of the final round.

The teams fought to a 1-1 draw with goals from Cyle Larin and Alex Lopez at BMO Field in September but since then their fates have diverged. Still, Honduras will look for a home win with Brayan Moya, who leads the final round with 21 shots taken, and Alberth Elis set to lead the attack while GK Luis “Buba” Lopez keeps La H strong at the back.

Match Officials

  • R: Daneon Parchment JAM
  • AR1 Cales Wales TRI
  • AR2 Jasett Kerr JAM
  • 4th Official Jose Torres PUR
  • VAR Tim Ford USA
  • AVAR Benjamin Pineda

Costa Rica vs. Panama

The night closes with a Central American ‘clasico’ as Panama makes the short trip north to the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica. While the travel isn’t difficult, Panama has struggled to beat Costa Rica at home, losing six matches and drawing two in qualification.

Things were level in September, as Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas put in a strong performance to keep a clean sheet in a scoreless draw in Panama City. This time around, Panama’s attackers find themselves in a better rhythm, and Rolando Blackburn and Edgar Yoel Barcenas, among others, will look to beat Navas -- especially as the game goes on, with 69 percent of Panama’s goals in qualification coming in the second half.

It won’t be easy, with the former Concacaf Goalkeeper of the Year showing in previous matches he’s up to the challenge and Costa Rica coming off a 2-1 win against Honduras last time out.

Match Officials 

  • R: Ismail Elfath USA
  • AR1 Corey Parker USA
  • AR2 Kyle Atkins USA
  • 4th Official Nima Sighafi USA
  • AVAR Drew Fischer CAN
  • AVAR Chris Penso USA