Honduras defeats Haiti 3-0 to lead CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group

Honduras secured a 3-0 victory over Haiti in their home match on Monday, taking the top spot in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group and improving their prospects for the 2026 tournament.

Before the game in Tegucigalpa, Haiti held the lead in Group C over Honduras on goal difference following their previous 0-0 draw last month.

Honduras now leads with eight points, two ahead of Costa Rica who triumphed 4-1 against Nicaragua at home, as Haiti slips to third place, one point behind them.

The remaining two rounds of qualifying fixtures are scheduled for November.

CONCACAF co-hosts United States, Canada, and Mexico have already secured qualification.

The last 12 teams are organised into three groups, with each group winner also advancing directly.

The top two runners-up, based on the best records, can still qualify through inter-confederation playoffs.

Honduras forward Rigoberto Rivas scored first in the 18th minute in Tegucigalpa, latching onto a bouncing pass from Kervin Arriaga and lobbing it over Haiti keeper Johny Placide.

Anthony Lozano extended the lead to 2-0 in the 26th minute with a right-footed strike from a Luis Palma assist.

Romell Quioto added the third goal from close range in the 40th minute.

In San Jose, Alonso Martinez put Costa Rica ahead in the 12th minute, only for Junior Arteaga to level in the 26th.

Martinez restored the advantage two minutes later, and Manfred Ugalde made it 3-1 in the 49th minute.

Francisco Calvo sealed the 4-1 win with a left-footed overhead kick in the fourth minute of added time.

Tuesday's qualifying games feature Trinidad and Tobago versus Curacao, Bermuda versus Jamaica, Suriname versus Panama, and Guatemala versus El Salvador.