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. Format Caribbean Zone: The 20 teams played in three rounds of knockout matches on a home-and-away basis to determine four winners advancing to the third round. Bahamas and Bermuda withdrew before playing one game. 18 countries stay in the race. Central American Zone: The four teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. The winners would advance to the third round. 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 Bermuda 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 Trinidad and Tobago won 12-1 on aggregate. Group C Jamaica won 3-0 on aggregate. Group D Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-2 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on aggregate. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines won