Belize's World Cup Hopes Dashed Early

The June FIFA international window marked the first Central American elimination on the road to the United 2026 World Cup. As reported by Diez, Belize was officially knocked out of contention after a 1-0 defeat to Montserrat in the third matchday of Concacaf's Group D qualifiers.

The game's lone goal came in the second minute, when midfielder Mark Rogers capitalized on a defensive lapse to score past the Belizean goalkeeper. This result makes Belize the first Central American team to be officially eliminated from the qualification process.

Montserrat secured its first win in the qualifiers and now sits second-to-last in the group, which is currently led by Nicaragua, with Panama close behind.

It's worth noting that Belize, along with Nicaragua and Guatemala, are the only Central American nations yet to make a World Cup appearance. In contrast, Costa Rica has qualified six times, Honduras three, El Salvador twice, and Panama once.

Belize's early exit underscores the challenges faced by some regional teams in competing at the highest level. Meanwhile, other Central American nations continue their quest for a spot in the tournament set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.