BELIZE CITY, Sun. Apr. 24, 2022 With two FIFA accredited stadiums now available (FFB Stadium and Isidoro Beaton Stadium), the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) is making a milestone for Belize this week as it is hosting the UNCAF FIFA Forward U-19 Football Championship involving 8 Central American national male U-19 teams. The team delegations all arrived in Belize on Friday, April 22, and are scheduled to leave after the tournament on Sunday, May 1.
Starting today, Sunday, and every other day until the finals on Saturday, 4 games will be played, 2 at each stadium.
The teams are separated into two groups of 4 teams each: Group A – Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua; and Group B – Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. Each team will play a round-robin of games against 3 opponents in its group, with matches being held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, after which the finals will be held on Saturday. Only the two group winners will play for the championship on Saturday, so Belize is still in contention, having drawn our first match today against Nicaragua, 2-2. At the end of the round-robins, the two group 4th place teams will meet, and the two 3rd place teams will clash to determine their rank in the tournament. The two group 2nd place teams will battle for 3rd Place in the tournament; and the two group winners will square off in the Final for the UNCAF U-19 Championship.
In tonight’s outing, Belize had to come from behind twice, after defensive lapses early in each half allowed Nicaragua to surge ahead; but each time Belize rebounded, first with a fine header by D’jon Daniels in first half, and then through a penalty conversion by Eldon Reneau in second half. Both games at the FFB Stadium were shown live on TNC 10. With a mix of players selected from across the country, Belize U-19 is still searching for a team game, with the benefit of only three friendlies in Chetumal, Mexico in preparation for the tournament. We do have a few bright talents, and if we can tighten up our defensive shortcomings, and use our midfield more in play construction, our boys may soon find their game and surprise a few opponents. Le’s go, Belize!
On Tuesday, Belize plays against El Salvador, who are now in the “driver’s seat,” having defeated Honduras, 2-0, earlier tonight in the other Group A game at the FFB Stadium.
Meanwhile in Group B at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium, reports are that Guatemala won, 3-1, over Puerto Rico in the nightcap, after Panama and Costa Rica had played to a 0-0 draw.
Remaining UNCAF U-19 schedule:
Tuesday, April 26
ISIDORO BEATON STADIUM
4:15 p.m. – (B) Puerto Rico vs Panama
7:00 p.m. – (B) Costa Rica vs Guatemala
FFB STADIUM
4:15 p.m. – (A) Nicaragua vs Honduras
7:00 p.m. – (A) Belize vs El Salvador
Thursday, April 28
ISIDORO BEATON STADIUM
4:15 p.m. – (B) Costa Rica vs Puerto Rico
7:00 p.m. – (B) Guatemala vs Panama
FFB STADIUM
4:15 p.m. (A) El Salvador vs Nicaragua
7:00 p.m. – (A) Belize vs Honduras
Saturday, April 30
ISIDORO BEATON STADIUM
4:15 p.m. – 4th Place A vs 4th Place B
7:00 p.m. – 3rd Place B vs 3rd Place A
FFB STADIUM
4:15 p.m. – THIRD PLACE – 2nd Place B vs 2nd Place A
7:00 p.m. – FINAL – 1st Place A vs 1st Place B