Round One of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers burst into life on Sunday as opening matches were contested in Groups C, D, and E.
Costa Rica and Haiti made emphatic early statements, while Guatemala, Cuba, and Honduras also opened their campaigns with victories. Jamaica and Guyana, meanwhile, played out the lone draw of the day in a tightly contested Group D encounter.
Group C: Late drama and Haitian firepower
Guatemala opened their Group C campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over the Cayman Islands at Stadion Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca in Willemstad, Curaçao.
After a largely even contest, the breakthrough arrived late in the 85th minute. Second-half substitutes combined decisively as Monica Martínez delivered the assist for Emery Aguilar, who applied a simple finish to secure all three points.
Haiti storm past Antigua and Barbuda
Haiti announced themselves as serious contenders with a commanding 6-1 triumph over Antigua and Barbuda at the same venue.
Keisha Gue ignited the rout in the 19th minute with a composed finish and quickly doubled the advantage moments later. Kerdina Lamour then dazzled with a solo effort in the 22nd minute, stealing possession, weaving through defenders, and firing low into the net.
Gue struck again in the 30th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error, before turning provider in the 53rd minute with a perfectly weighted through ball for Kyrah Lormil.
Adjani Kamanzi-Mondestin added a fifth in the 65th minute with a powerful strike from the left side of the area. Antigua and Barbuda found a consolation goal through Keitonya Skepple’s long-range blast in the 79th minute, but Lamour sealed the emphatic win in the 86th minute by pouncing on a loose ball to complete her brace.
Group D: Balance, brilliance, and late equalizers
Group D opened with a tense 1-1 draw between Jamaica and Guyana at Stadion Guillermo Prospero Trinidad in Oranjestad, Aruba.
After a goalless first hour, Guyana broke through in the 74th minute when Alexaudria Chasles reacted quickest to a loose clearance and finished from close range. Just as Guyana appeared poised to close out the match, Jamaica struck back in the 85th minute. Nycolette Predergas unleashed a stunning long-range effort that sailed over the goalkeeper to level the contest.
Honduras take control against Aruba
Honduras seized early control of Group D with a 3-1 victory over hosts Aruba.
Alexandra Merriam opened the scoring in the 71st minute with a superb strike from outside the box. Allisson Suazo doubled the lead eight minutes later after weaving through defenders and finishing coolly.
Merriam completed her brace in the 87th minute by capitalizing on a goalkeeping error, stealing possession and slotting home. Aruba avoided a shutout deep into stoppage time as Adannayah Breinburg curled in an impressive free kick in the 90th+2 minute.
Group E: Goals flow freely as favorites assert dominance
Group E began with an instant classic as Cuba edged Grenada 4-3 at Estadio Miguel Chocorrón Buitrago in Managua, Nicaragua.
Grenada struck early through Alexis Hypolite in the third minute, but Cuba responded with authority behind a dazzling first-half hat-trick from Yaiselis López. She equalized in the 29th minute, added a second in the 38th, and completed her treble three minutes later by beating the goalkeeper to the ball.
Grenada pulled one back just before halftime through Arielle Grant’s curling effort off the post. López extended Cuba’s lead again in the 61st minute after being set up by Yoesmayda Isaac. Grenada added late drama with Jazmine Lewis scoring in the 90th+2 minute, but Cuba held firm to claim the victory.
Costa Rica deliver statement win
Costa Rica delivered the most emphatic performance of the round, overwhelming the British Virgin Islands 16-0 in Managua.
Eight different players found the scoresheet, with Nubia Medina leading the charge with five goals and Lucía Paniagua adding four. Cameron Mora opened the floodgates in the fifth minute with a long-range strike, followed by Avril Pérez’s close-range finish in the 26th minute.
Medina powered home two headers before halftime and completed a second-half hat trick with goals in the 47th, 79th, and 82nd minutes. Paniagua struck repeatedly, including a converted penalty, and capped her performance early in the second half.
Costa Rica’s depth was further highlighted when captain Isska Chaverri added her name to the scoresheet with a thunderous effort from outside the box in the 65th minute.
