Richonell Margaret scored twice as Suriname moved to within touching distance of a place at its first FIFA World Cup with a 4-0 home win over El Salvador on Thursday.

Tjaronn Chery broke the deadlock from the penalty spot before Margaret, a striker for Dutch top-flight club Go Ahead Eagles, netted twice in three minutes.

Midfielder Dhoraso Klas put the result beyond doubt by rifling a long-range effort into the top-right corner.

The result leaves Suriname top of Group A with nine points from five outings in the final round of the CONCACAF region's qualifying tournament, ahead of second-placed Panama on goal difference.

Suriname, which is assured of at least a playoff spot, will face Guatemala away on Tuesday, the final day of qualifiers.

The top team from each of the three groups will secure an automatic World Cup berth, while the two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.

The next edition of football's biggest tournament will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

In other CONCACAF qualifiers on Thursday, Haiti won 1-0 at home to Costa Rica, Nicaragua clinched a 2-0 home win over Honduras, Panama edged Guatemala 3-2 away, Jamaica drew 1-1 in Trinidad and Tobago, and Curacao romped to a 7-0 win over Bermuda.