Two sides seeking their first points in round two of CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualifying will square off on Wednesday as Dominica welcome the British Virgin Islands to Windsor Park in Roseau.
In their previous qualification fixture, Dominica were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Jamaica, while the Nature Boys lost 4-0 to the Dominican Republic, putting them at the bottom of Group E, just below the former on goal difference.
Match preview
A late surge was ultimately just a little too late for Dominica in their previous qualifier, with this side scoring twice in the final 10 minutes against the experienced Reggae Boyz.
While they have yet to claim a point in the 2026 qualification cycle, Ellington Sabin will be pleased to see his side showing much more resolve than they had in their opening match of this round, when they were hammered 6-0 by Guatemala.
Coming into this contest, the Caribbean team are winless in their last seven matches played across all competitions, with their previous triumph occurring in their opening game of the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League last September (2-1 over Antigua and Barbuda).
One area in which they have improved upon in recent matches is their defensive structure, having posted three successive clean sheets, including two last month in friendlies versus Barbados.
It has been over three years since they previously won a match played at Windsor Park, defeating Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3-1 in a friendly played on May 15, 2022.
Dominica have never lost an international fixture to the British Virgin Islands, winning the previous meeting against them in November 2023 (2-1).
Two matches into the second round of qualifying, and the British Virgin Islands look overwhelmed and have been completely outclassed by their opponents.
Chris Kiwomya's men have been outscored by a combined margin of 7-0 in their two second-round affairs after advancing to this stage on penalties against the US Virgin Islands.
The Ipswich Town Hall of Fame player has not won a competitive fixture in normal time as manager of this team since they defeated Turks and Caicos 3-1 in a September Nations League contest.
While that first-ever World Cup qualifying victory feel like it is a long way off, this side have at least achieved some more respectable results in recent times.
The British Virgin Islands have drawn two of their three matches played this year, conceding a goal or fewer in their previous four international affairs.
They have failed to score in five of their last six away matches, but they have earned a result in their previous two games played against Dominica as the visiting team.
Team News
From the first to second match in the group phase of qualification, there was just one change made to the Dominica starting 11, with Audel Laville coming into the fold in place of Javid George.
George came on for Laville in their match with Jamaica and scored their first goal of 2026 qualifying, with Troy Jules netting the other one.
On the British Virgin Islands side, two changes were made from matchday one to two as Robert Green and Kristian Javier replaced Jadon Abrams and Joshua Bertie in the starting 11.
Their only goal in qualifying thus far came in the opening round against the US Virgin Islands when Hugo Liziario scored the equaliser in second-half stoppage time, his first on the international stage.
Dominica possible starting lineup:
Prince; Bredas, Xavier, E. Marshall, Edwards; Jules, Williams, Jolly, Thomas, George; Anselm
British Virgin Islands possible starting lineup:
Beckles; Wiltshire, Price, Caesar, M. Marshall; Javier, Lacey, Gallimore, Chalwell; Forbes, Liziario
We say: Dominica 2-0 British Virgin Islands
The visitors can compete and keep matches close at times, but eventually, all that defending takes a toll, and we believe Dominica will find a moment of class and that may be enough to earn them maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
