Four Caribbean teams will be hoping to break into the much-anticipated inaugural staging of the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup when they contest the preliminary round of competition at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on Saturday.

With only three spots up for grabs, only two teams from the Caribbean, and one from Central America, will progress to join United States, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica in the main event.

Guyana vs. Dominican Republic

Guyana and the Dominican Republic take the pitch in a first-ever encounter. Both teams are no strangers to the hustle, as they won their respective groups in League B of the qualifiers.

Having tallied 20 goals in their five wins and a draw, Guyana arrived in California ready to impress and they certainly possess enough quality to do so. Otesha Charles, who scored seven goals during the qualifiers, and Jalade Trim, who scored a brace in the last win, are key players to watch.

The Dominican Republic also know plenty about success, as they booked their spot in the preliminary stage as Group B winners in League B. Like Guyana, Dominican Republic registered five wins and a draw in six games, with a tally of 24 goals.

Jazmin Jackson, who had four goals in that total, will be the Spanish-speaking Caribbean team’s biggest threat in front of goal, with goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez and the defensive line, hoping to add to the four clean sheets they had in the qualifiers.

With not much separating the two teams, it is left to be seen, who will execute more efficiently, both in offensively and in the defence to come out on top.

Haiti vs. Puerto Rico

By all indications, Haiti will start firm favourites in their contest against Puerto Rico, not only because they have won four of the last six meetings between the two, but also due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup experience under their belts.

Haiti have scored 12 times against Puerto Rico, while conceding five. That coupled, with the fact that last year’s appearance at the global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand, has added impetus to their charge, all but signals their readiness for their next challenge.

Haitian legend Nerilia Mondesir, who scored six goals and provided eight assists, along with Batcheba Louis, who had five goals in their second-place finish in Group C of League A, will again be critical to their chances of clinching a spot in the group stage.

Puerto Rico’s one win, one draw and a loss, is nowhere close to Haiti’s three wins and a loss, but they are no fluke when it comes to important assignments, and this is an important as any. So, while on paper Haiti are favourites, the game has to be played and Puerto Rico could very well capitalise if the opponents slip up.

Goalkeepers Sydney Martinez and JLo Varada, whichever is given starting duties, will be charged with shutting out Haiti’s attackers.

El Salvador vs. Guatemala

El Salvador and Guatemala have faced each other nine times, with the latter holding a seven-win advantage. Now, they will add a new chapter to their history, with Guatemala are looking to keep the positive record going.

They placed second in Group B of League A, after they secured 2-2 and 1-1 stalemates with the Caribbean’s number one team Jamaica, albeit without their best players.

Knowing what it means to leave everything on the pitch, star players like Ana Lucia Martinez, who was the team’s top scorer (three goals), and Leslie Ramirez (one goal), will be key to their chances.

El Salvador will be looking to continue their winning momentum from the qualifiers where they won all six games to top Group B of League B, with their 24 goals coming from different players.

Brenda Ceren led the way in scoring five goals, closely followed by Danya Gutierrez, Samaria Gomez and Danielle Fuentes with four goals each.

The Dominican Republic made a big statement in their hopes to win Group C of League B as the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers continued on Friday.

Bermuda remains first in the group after a draw in Barbados. That point is the lone separator between Bermuda and Dominican Republic, who now has a superior goal difference and is chasing the playoff spot.

St Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic took an 8-0 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown.

The visitors took the lead in the first as Vanessa Kara lobbed a perfect ball under the top post, which gave goalkeeper Tishana James no chance at a save.

Jazmin Jackson added a second in the ninth with her elusive footwork inside the box and a right-footed shot just inside the left post.

Kathrynn Gonzalez extended the lead in the 17th by putting away a loose ball in the box.

Winibian Peralta earned a penalty after she was felled inside the area. Peralta converted from the spot in the 23rd to make it four unanswered.

Aaliyah Anderson tried to get one back for the home side in the 30th but visiting goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez was alert with the save.

Kathrynn Gonzalez completed a double in the 33rd with a rocket from distance.

Jackson also earned her second of the day in the 40th with a header. Lucia Marte was instrumental by starting the play from an interception and dribbling into the box to cross it across goal.

Jackson completed her hat-trick in the 58th with another header in front of goal. Brianne Reed provided the long cross into the box for the assist.

Dahien Cabrera added an eighth in the 87th to complete a build-up through the right flank as the Dominican Republic obtained his second win of the group stage.

Barbados vs. Bermuda

Barbados and Bermuda tied 1-1 at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Bridgetown.

Bermuda’s Aaliyah Nolan was denied by the left post in the 10th in a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Nolan would eventually get the opening goal in the 24th with a drive through the middle of the field and a left-footed shot to the back of the net. Eva Frazzoni delivered the long service for the assist on the play.

The visitors then generated a free kick opportunity in the 36th but Victoria Davis’s attempt was just wide.

Adrienne Forde notched the equalizer in the 47th off a corner kick opportunity earned from an aggressive Barbados to start the second half.

Bermuda’s Akeyla Furbert nearly got around the defense in the 86th, but Barbados goalkeeper Kamilla Burke impeded the through ball becoming a more dangerous situation.

Jaden Masters then looked to have the winner in the 88th, but Burke delivered a crucial save to keep the score level.

The spotlight was on Group C of League B in the 2023 Road to the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup tournament on Tuesday night.

Bermuda sits atop Group C with two victories to start its campaign. The Dominican Republic picked up its first victory, but Barbados maintains second place in the group on goal differential, while St Vincent and the Grenadines will use the break to reassess and return stronger during the October international fixtures.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Bermuda

Bermuda took a 4-0 victory at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The home side generated a good chance to take the lead early in the 11th when a corner kick provided a menacing opportunity, but Dionte Delpeche could not connect with Asha Richards.

Jya Ratteray Smith took the lead for the visitors in the 14th, after connecting off a long pass into the box from Khyla Brangman.

Smith doubled the lead by completing her brace in the 39th, after Symira Lowe Derrell won a contested ball in midfield to provide the assist.

Eva Frazzoni added a third goal in the 78th after connecting with a pass down the right flank from Trinae Edwards.

Khyla Brangman extended the lead to four in the 86th from the penalty spot. Frazzoni was taken down on the previous play.

Dominican Republic vs. Barbados

The Dominican Republic earned a 3-0 victory over Barbados at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Acacia Small nearly had the visitors up in the sixth, but Odaliana Gomez, was there to block the shot on a night where she would collect the clean sheet.

Barbados goalkeeper Kamillah Burke also had a goal-denying save in the 20th, as she stood in the way of Vanessa Kara.

Kara broke through with the opening goal in the 39th with a pouncing run into the box to collect the ball and shoot it past Burke. 

Brianne Reed extended the lead by two in the 53rd by heading in a corner kick from Winibian Peralta. 

Kara collected her brace in the 55th with another attack into the box as a throw-in led to the three-goal lead.

Jaylen Vallecillo had a header towards goal in the 73rd as the hosts looked to increase their grasp on the scoreboard. Kara had another shot on goal in the 86th as the home side closed out the result.

The Road to the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup continued with two League B encounters on Friday. Bermuda and Barbados started the tournament with three-point performances at home.

Barbados takes the top of Group C on goal difference given their larger margin of victory, while Bermuda starts in position to challenge for first place. The Dominican Republic and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will look to avenge their defeats with a home match next week.

Bermuda vs Dominican Republic

Bermuda opened their campaign with a 2-0 home win over the Dominican Republic at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire Parish, Bermuda.

Jaden Masters opened the scoring in the 10th with a rocket from long range to send the home fans into ecstasy. This came just seconds after the Lady Warriors were close to taking the lead on an attempt from Eva Frazzoni going just wide.

Winibian Peralta attempted to equalize in the 20th from a free kick but the attempt was caught by goalkeeper Zakhari Turner.

Lucia Marte provided a dangerous hit across goal in the 32th as the Dominican Republic continued to search for the tying goal.

Masters earned her brace in the 45+1 on a Bermuda fast break, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Odaliana Gomez just outside the edge of the box.

Masters nearly completed her hat-trick in the 55th but Gomez made a big stop to keep the score within reach. 

Turner ended the day with seven saves as she collected her first clean sheet of the tournament and Bermuda its first three points.

Barbados vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Barbados won 5-0 over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to start its campaign at the Wildey Turf Stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Shanice Stevenson opened the scoring in the 10th from a free kick chance. Goalkeeper Altica Benn tried to stop the attempt but the potent was too much to contain.

Rianna Cyrus extended the lead in the 19th with some nifty footwork inside the box to convert on a delivery from Shauntae Hinds.

Cyrus extended the lead again in the 22th by evading the keeper and hitting a precise ball outside the right side of the goal area. Stevenson provided the through ball into the box.

Prior to the halftime whistle, at 45+2, Cyrus completed her hat-trick off a free kick service from Stevenson.

Cheyanna Burnett-Griffith scored a fifth for Barbados in the 75th with a strike off the bouncing ball. Keinelle Johnson provided the cross from the left flank to find Burnett-Griffith inside the area.

The defense provided a strong outing in its home opener by holding Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to zero shots on target. Kamilla Burke made an important save outside the box during the closing minutes to preserve the clean sheet.