1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)


The 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, CONCACAF zone ran from March 1996 to November 1997 in order to determine the three CONCACAF representatives at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification.
A total of 30 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. Mexico, the USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Canada, the six highest-ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the third round directly. The remaining 24 teams were divided into two zones, based on geographical locations, as follows:
In the third round, the 12 teams were divided into three groups of four teams each. They played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners and runners-up would advance to the final round.
In the final round, the six teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top three teams would qualify.

Preliminary round

Group A

----
Dominican Republic won 6-3 on aggregate.

Group B

----
Grenada won 8-1 on aggregate.

Group C

The Bahamas withdrew, so Saint Kitts and Nevis advanced to the first round automatically.

Group D

----
Dominica won 6-4 on aggregate.

First round

Group [|1]

----
Dominican Republic won 2-1 on aggregate.

Group 2

----
Haiti won 7-1 on aggregate.

Group 3

----
Note:Both matches were played in Cayman Islands.
Cuba won 6-0 on aggregate.

Group 4

----
Saint Kitts and Nevis won 6-1 on aggregate.

Group 5

----
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines won 9-1 on aggregate.

Group 6

----
Barbados won 2-0 on aggregate.

Group 7

----
Jamaica won 2-0 on aggregate.

Group 8

withdrew, so Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the second round automatically.

Second round

!colspan=6|Caribbean Zone
!colspan=6|Central American Zone

Caribbean Zone

Group A

This match was played on neutral ground instead of in Cuba.
----
Cuba won 7-2 on aggregate.

Group B

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Trinidad and Tobago won 12-1 on aggregate.

Group C

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Jamaica won 3-0 on aggregate.

Group D

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Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-2 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on aggregate. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines won on the away goals rule.

Central American Zone

Group E

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Guatemala won 3-1 on aggregate.

Group F

----
Panama won 6-2 on aggregate.

Third round

Group 1

The United States and Costa Rica advanced to the final round. Guatemala played their home games in Los Angeles and San Salvador instead of at home due to FIFA stadium standards not followed by the Estadio Mateo Flores, in Guatemala City, where over 80 people died due to structural flaws and overcrowding in October 16, 1996, when the home match against Costa Rica was due to be played.

Group 2

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
16510101916
26312126610
36123811-35
46105416-123

Canada and El Salvador advanced to the final round.
Cuba played all their matches away from home.

Group 3

Jamaica and Mexico advanced to the final round.

Fourth round

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1104602371618
210451179817
310352712-514
4103341312112
5102441116-510
610136520-156

The following three teams from CONCACAF qualified for the final tournament.
TeamQualified asQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup1
10
5
0

Goalscorers

;11 goals
;9 goals
;8 goals
;6 goals
;5 goals
;4 goals
;3 goals
;2 goals
;1 goal
;1 own goal