Grenada and Bahamas, both in search of their first victory in round two of CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualifying, will come together at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium on Thursday.
The hosts are fourth in Group B with one point from their two fixtures, while the visitors are bottom of the standings with two defeats from their two matches.
Match preview
© Imago
Grenada automatically qualified for the second round of World Cup qualifying as they ranked among the top 28 CONCACAF sides (placing 174th) in the FIFA rankings at the time of the draw in December 2023.
They were drawn alongside Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Bahamas in Group B, but one draw and one defeat from their first two fixtures leaves them on the verge of elimination.
Grenada squandered a two-goal lead in their opening fixture against Trinidad and Tobago as they were held to an eventual 2-2 draw, followed by a 3-0 defeat to a dominant Costa Rice in their second outing.
Now trailing second-placed Trinidad and Tobago by three points with two games remaining, Granada are in desperate need of points if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the third round.
The Spice Boys are in good standing heading into this clash, having bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Russia with a confident 2-0 win against Anguilla last time out.
In addition, the visitors, Bahamas, are one of just eight teams across all of the groups, and the only side in Group B, yet to take a point from their two matches.
Bahamas similarly automatically qualified for the second round as the 28th highest ranked CONCACAF side, sitting 202nd in the FIFA rankings - narrowly four spots above Turks and Caicos Islands in 206th.
They suffered a miserable 7-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in their opening match, followed by losing 1-0 to Saint Kitts and Nevis in their second outing, leaving them at the bottom of Group B.
Looking to secure their first points and keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the third round alive, Bahamas must improve on a run of just one win in their last 16 games, alongside three draws and 12 defeats.
Team News
Grenada are expected to look to Lucas Akins and Regan Charles-Cook in attack, after the pair scored four goals between them in the CONCACAF Nations League matches that took place at the end of last year.
Myles Hippolyte is their top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers, scoring both of their only goals in the 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago, and the midfielder could partner Kwazim Theodore in this one.
As for Bahamas, Brandon Adderley scored six goals in four CONCACAF Nations League matches at the end of last year, and the forward could start alongside Peter Julmis and Omari Bain in attack.
Elsewhere, a defence of Jonathan Miller, Lesly St Fleur, Jordan Cheetham and Quinton Carey could start, with Michael Butler between the posts.
Grenada possible starting lineup:
Belfon; Ettienne, Harrack, Beckles, Gabriel; Theodore, Hippolyte; Francis, Charles-Cook, Johnson; Akins
Bahamas possible starting lineup:
Butler; Miller, Fleur, Cheetham, Carey; Massey, Bayles, Rahming; Adderley, Julmis, Bain
We say: Grenada 3-0 Bahamas
Grenada may have just one point more than Bahamas, but the hosts have produced promising performances in comparison to their visitors, and we expect their quality to show with a home win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
