USWNT begin final stage of World Cup Qualifying tonight vs Mexico

The Women’s World Cup is less than a year a way. For the US Women’s National Team, their road to France 2019 is nearing an end. Tonight the final stage of World Cup Qualifying starts for the USWNT. The CONCACAF Championship determine who will make it to France for the 2019 World Cup. Eight teams battle it out for the chance to make the World Cup Finals. Finishing first, second or third in the tournament automatically qualify nations for the 2019 Women’s World Cup!

Carli Lloyd is congratulated after scoring a goal against Chile back in September friendly match. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.

The route to France 2019:

The 2018 CONCACAF Womens Championships is the route to get to France 2019, the eight nations have to be in the top two teams in the respective two groups to make the semifinals.

Here’s what the groups look like:

Group A:

USA
Mexico
Panama
Trinidad and Tobago

Group B:

Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Jamaica

Each team in the group plays the other three. As is the case throughout soccer, and groups, a win equals three points, a draw equals one point and a loss equals zero points. After the three groups stage games are played the top team from each group plays the runner-up of the other in the semifinal. A semifinal win puts you in the championship; a semifinal loss puts you in the third place game.

The teams that advance to the final automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup. The teams in the third place match have a tougher road. The winner of the third place match wins a qualifying bid to the 2019 World Cup, while the fourth place.

The tournament starts up tonight for group A and tomorrow for group B. The match everyone has their eyes on tonight is the USA-Mexico showdown!

USWNT vs Mexico Preview:

The USWNT take on Mexico tonight. While this may be a strong rivalry it’s one that has been dominated by the USA. Dating back four years the USWNT has not lost to Mexcio. In their most recent matches, back in April, The U.S. beat Mexico twice in three days. The combined score of the matches was 10-3 in favor of USA. Tonight’s match is crucial to both nations World Cup 2019 hopes.

Should Mexico find a way past the U.S., it would be a huge surprise and shake up the standings in group A. Mexico would be leading the group after playing their most difficult match; USA would take a loss for the first time in over a year, and would have to fight in the last two matches to gain more points than Mexico. While it’s possible that Mexico could beat the U.S., in all probability the USWNT will make them look silly.

The USWNT is a force to be reckoned with. Their attacking prowess would give the World Cup winning U.S. teams of the past a run for their money. The six out-and-out attackers on the U.S. roster has combined to score 308 goals combined for the USWNT! Whoever is out there for the US, they will be able to score boat loads of goals. The players behind the forwards are just as talented, but will help to lock down their opponents, and get the ball to the opponents half and keep it there. This U.S. side is very strong. They should handle Group A well, starting with mexico.

Prediction: USA: 4 – Mexico: 1

2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher.

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn, Hailie Mace, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Casey Short, Emily Sonnett.

MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis.

FORWARDS (6): Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe.

UWNT 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Schedule

DATE	GROUP A	TIME (ET)	LOCATION	TV	CITY
Oct. 4, 2018	Mexico	7:30 p.m.	Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park	FOX Sports	Cary, N.C.
Oct. 7, 2018	Panama	5 p.m.	Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park	FOX Sports	Cary, N.C.
Oct. 10, 2018	Trinidad & Tobago	7:30 p.m.	Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park	FOX Sports	Cary, N.C.

This USWNT is worth paying attention to:

In the over-saturated landscape of American sports, Soccer usually gets laughed off, or even called “not a sport”. When it comes to the Women’s game, they are usually seen as an even further after thought. That should not be the case with the US Women’s National team.

They kick ass, and have done so since the nineties. They actually win trophies on the World Stage! The USWNT win consistently, their last loss was over a year ago. They have the most talented players in the world, and carry the torch for US Soccer, especially when the Men fall flat on their faces. They do all this, while getting paid a whole lot less than the Men’s team. Pay attention to this team, you’ll get sucked into how good they are!

We here at Philly Sports Network will be covering them more often, starting with the CONCACAF Championship. The USWNT will be the front-runners to win the tournament. Should they finish in either first, second or third in the tournament they’ll automatically qualify for the 2019 Women’s World Cup! The fourth place team will then have to play a home-and-away intercontinental playoff, with Argentina for the chance to make the 2019 World Cup.