Guatemala City, Nov. 17 - The Suriname national team will scout the field today here ahead of their match against Guatemala, aiming to make a strong impression and qualify on their own merit for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
The South Americans, who arrived in the country on Saturday night, will visit the Manuel Felipe Carrera Stadium, known as "El Trébol," to make final preparations for tomorrow's match. The day before, they only conducted regenerative work at the hotel gym where they are staying.
Led by former professional footballer and Dutch coach Stanley Menzo, Suriname tops Group A of the CONCACAF qualifiers and previously confirmed their dominance with a 4-0 victory over El Salvador.
The Suriboys arrive undefeated, with nine points, the same as Panama, but with a goal difference of plus five compared to Panama's two. Therefore, they will depend on themselves to secure a spot at next year's tournament in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The Guatemalan team, already out of contention for advancement, continues under the guidance of Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena, focused on finishing strong in front of their loyal fans and, consequently, spoiling the party for their opponents.
Local media also noted that the match represents an opportunity for them to earn points for the world ranking, which is crucial for upcoming competitions.
The Guatemalan coach will hold a press conference this Monday afternoon, and his players will conduct their final training session at the High-Performance Center in the city.
Both teams faced each other on October 10 at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, where they ended in a 1-1 draw.
Twelve teams, divided into three groups, will compete for three direct spots in the Confederation of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) for the global event. The top three teams from each group will qualify directly, while the two best second-place teams will go to an intercontinental playoff involving six teams scheduled for March of next year.
In an unprecedented development, in the first World Cup featuring 48 nations, CONCACAF could include up to eight teams.
