League A quarterfinals begin with first-leg encounters | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League continues as eight remaining teams in League A resume their quest to reach the 2025 CNL Finals on Thursday and Friday.

After the completion of Group Stage play for League A, which took place in September and October, the two top teams from each group, Costa Rica and Suriname (Group A) and Jamaica and Honduras (Group B), advanced to the Quarterfinals to join the four top-ranked pre-seeded League A teams: Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.

During the November window, the home-and-away series will determine the teams advancing to the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals at Hollywood Park and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Quarterfinal winners will also qualify for next summer’s Gold Cup, while the losing teams will move on to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.

Jamaica vs. United States

Jamaica hosts the three-time and reigning Concacaf Nations League winners, the United States, in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Thursday at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The two nations face again after meeting in the semifinal of the 2024 CNL Finals.

After a first-place finish in Group B with a 2-2-0 record, Jamaica will strive to match or better its third-place finish in the 2023/24 edition, its best-ever finish in CNL history. The Reggae Boyz advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to top contributions from goalkeeper Andre Blake, midfielder Kasey Palmer, and forward Michail Antonio.

The United States enters its first test in an official match under recently appointed head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The reigning champions will seek a fourth consecutive title with team captain Christian Pulisic, who scored three goals and provided an assist in the 2023/24 final stages, and Weston McKennie, the team leader with 11 goal contributions in the CNL (six goals and five assists).

Costa Rica vs. Panama

Costa Rica hosts Panama in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Thursday at Estadio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica. The two sides meet for a second consecutive meeting in the CNL quarterfinals.

The first-place team in Group A with a 2-2-0 record, Costa Rica will seek redemption after being denied a spot in the CNL Finals by Panama in the previous edition. Los Ticos will look to captain Francisco Calvo, who contributed two goals in the group stage, goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira and forward Warren Madrigal to move on to the final four.

Panama looks to build on consecutive fourth-place finishes in the CNL Finals. José Fajardo was the top scorer for Los Canaleros, with three in the 2023/24 edition, and has scored five goals in his last eight matches for his national team. Fajardo and 2023/24 Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year Adalberto Carrasquilla will be key players to watch as Panama starts its campaign.

Suriname vs. Canada

Suriname hosts Canada in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Friday at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Following a second-place finish in Group A with a 2-1-1 record, Suriname will make its quarterfinals debut as part of a historic campaign. Suriname is unbeaten in four CNL home games and will look to the likes of Gleofilo Vlijter, Sheraldo Becker, and Virgil Misidjan to advance to its first CNL Finals.

Canada will seek to return to the CNL Finals after finishing runners-up in 2022/23 edition. Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau were key players in a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América last summer.

Honduras vs. Mexico

Honduras hosts Mexico in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Friday at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Los Catrachos finished second in Group B with a 2-1-1 record and will strive to reach its first CNL Finals. David Ruiz struck two goals in the group stage and leads the team in scoring in the current campaign.

Mexico is seeking a fourth consecutive semifinal appearance in the CNL Finals and first under reappointed manager Javier Aguirre. Edson Álvarez and Raúl Jiménez highlight the latest roster, which also includes Ángel Sepúlveda and Henry Martín, who are tied for second place among Liga MX top scorers in the Apertura 2024 season.