Concacaf teams have advanced to the FIFA World Cup via the play-offs three times Costa Rica were last to do it when they edged New Zealand to reach Qatar 2022 Jamaica and Suriname hope to become the latest sides to achieve that feat The battle for the final spots in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ takes place in late March, with two places to be determined in the FIFA Play-off Tournament. Concacaf sides Jamaica and Suriname will attempt to give the region eight teams in this year’s global showpiece, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico and USA, along with qualifiers Curaçao Haiti and Panama. Jamaica must first get past New Caledonia before a winner-takes-all affair with Congo DR, while a Suriname victory against Bolivia would set up a showdown against Iraq. History suggests that both the Reggae Boyz and A Natio can feel optimistic about their chances. In six previous intercontinental play-offs involving a Concacaf team, three times they have emerged victorious. FIFA takes a look back at who punched their ticket and who came up just short.
How Concacaf sides have fared in play-offs
