HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Bermuda will play their home World Cup qualifying match against the Cayman Islands at the IMG Academy Complex in Bradenton, Florida, the Bermuda Football Association announced yesterday. The decision was taken in keeping with existing public health guidelines and the uncertainties that persist with the coronavirus pandemic. Bermuda, currently under 20:00hrs to 06:00hrs. curfew, has recorded more than 2 400 cases of COVID-19 with 30 deaths – 18 of them since April 1. The CONCACAF Zone Group B match will be played on June 8 at a time to be determined, but the venue for the away fixture against Suriname four days earlier has yet to be confirmed. Suriname played their first home fixture at the Frank Essed Stadion, against Cayman Islands on March 24, winning 3-0, but the South American country has since been hit hard by the pandemic. Cayman followed up by losing 0-11 to Canada.
Bermuda’s first two qualifiers in March were both switched to Florida where they lost 1-5 to Canada in Orlando before beating Aruba 5-0 in Bradenton.