The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is happy to step in and host Guyana’s crucial CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier in the upcoming round of matches. In the recent release of fixtures, CONCACAF announced that Guyana will face Guatemala on Friday March 21 at 9pm at the BFA's Technical Centre at Wildey, Barbados. The return leg will be at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City on Tuesday, March 25.

 

Randy Harris, longstanding President of the BFA, said his organsation was ready and fully capable of hosting the game on behalf of the Guyana Football Federation.

 

“The BFA in its wisdom, negotiated with FIFA to have the Technical Centre built where we could host major events and play football at various levels, including regional and internationals. In the past we hosted on behalf of other countries -- Haiti, Saint Lucia, and Guyana. It demonstrates the quality of our facilities, and the confidence others have in us to deliver to the highest international standards and requirements. The investment is bearing fruit,” Harris said.

 

Meanwhile it was also announced that two regional teams will meet, and their fixtures will be played at famous cricket venues. St Vincent and the Grenadines will face Jamaica at Arnos Vale in the first leg. When the teams play in the return leg in Jamaica, the game will be staged at the historic Sabina Park.

 

The 18th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup will take place this summer, from June 14 to July 6, across 14 stadiums in 11 metropolitan areas of the United States and Canada. This tournament will feature 16 national teams. The nine teams that have already secured a spot are: Canada, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, USA, and Saudi Arabia (guest team). It will serve as a forerunner to the FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.