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You may be interested in:Guatemala comes back and eliminates the Dominican Republic from the road to the 2026 World Cup
The bus carrying the players and coaching staff collided with a pickup truck on one of the main roads in the Guatemalan capital, amidst heavy rain and congested traffic. Although no injuries were reported, the incident caused a significant delay in the team's arrival at the stadium.
Delay in the start of the match due to security and logistics protocol
The collision forced the delegation to stop for at least 25 minutes, which generated moments of tension and concern. Local authorities intervened to resolve the incident, while the team members remained inside the bus.
Due to the delay, Concacaf and FIFA decided to postpone the start of the match, originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m., rescheduling it for 8:30 p.m. local time. The Dominican Republic national team entered the sports venue at 7:34 p.m., with just enough time to perform minimal warm-ups before the start of the match.
Sedofútbol denounces lack of police support
Through social media, members of the Dominican Football Federation and media present pointed out the absence of a police escort on the way to the stadium, which may have contributed to the situation. Likewise, they made public their concern about the logistical and security conditions provided by the local organization.
The incident occurred in a context of high demand for the Quisqueyan team, which was seeking to gain vital points on their path to the World Cup. Although they were finally able to play the match, the emotional and physical impact of the accident may have affected their performance on the field.
A Call for Better Organizational Protocols
This event has brought into question the need to reinforce transportation and security protocols for visiting teams in official tournaments organized by Concacaf and FIFA. Leaders and figures in Caribbean football have requested a thorough review of what happened to prevent similar incidents in the future.
