There are some nervous times ahead for the USA soccer team. They have three games remaining in their bid to reach the 2022 World Cup finals.
After taking part in seven consecutive finals, the American team missed out in 2018. They were going well in the qualifiers but then defeats by Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago saw them eliminated.
Making it to Qatar for the finals that are being held in November and December of this year, is vital for the American team. Not making it to Russia in 2018 was a big step backwards for an American team that had reached the last 16 in the two previous tournaments.
With three games to go, the chances of making it to the finals are looking good but there are two big hurdles to face in their next couple of matches.
Their last qualifier was a home game against Honduras on February 2. Winning that game was of paramount importance after being beaten by table-toppers Canada in their previous game. It was a cold night to say the least with players even wearing balaclavas in the freezing conditions.
The USA won 3-0 against the side bottom of the table. The win left them in second place, four points behind Canada. They are only above third-placed Mexico on goal difference, but four points clear of Panama (who reached the last finals) in fourth. The top three automatically qualify for the finals. Fourth takes you into the Inter-Confederation play-offs.
Up next for America are two tough games. March 24 sees the USA travel to Mexico. Fourth-placed Panama are home to Honduras and will be expecting three points. The USA really needs to get something from that game in Mexico.
Away form in this World Cup qualifying group has been a major concern. Five matches have only produced five points. Just the one win and that was a 4-1 victory in Honduras, who have just three points (and no wins) from their 11 games.
The USA has been held to draws in El Salvador and Jamaica. They are the other two countries in the bottom three and more than a couple of points should have been earned against them. Trips to Canada and Panama both ended in defeats. They’ve only scored in two of their away qualifiers, so you can see why there are concerns over the trip to Mexico.
The Mexicans are unbeaten at home but were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica earlier this month. A win there would put them two points clear of the USA. The reverse fixture saw two late goals win the match for the Americans. A repeat of that in Mexico would take them so close to qualification. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster, a loss would be.
Their penultimate qualifier is on March 27. That’s when the USA host Panama in a crucial match. Winning that game would all but see the USA qualify. Six home qualifiers have so far produced five victories and a draw with Canada. Panama has beaten the bottom two on their travels but lost their other four. All seems set for a home win.
If matters do go wrong, then it could go down to the final away game in Costa Rica. The nightmare of the last qualification campaign dares not be repeated but all being well, the USA are on their way to Qatar.
There are some nervous times ahead for the USA soccer team. They have three games remaining in their bid to reach the 2022 World Cup finals.
After taking part in seven consecutive finals, the American team missed out in 2018. They were going well in the qualifiers but then defeats by Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago saw them eliminated.
Making it to Qatar for the finals that are being held in November and December of this year, is vital for the American team. Not making it to Russia in 2018 was a big step backward for an American team that had reached the last 16 in the two previous tournaments.
With three games to go, the chances of making it to the finals are looking good but there are two big hurdles to face in their next couple of matches.
Their last qualifier was a home game against Honduras on February 2. Winning that game was of paramount importance after being beaten by table-toppers Canada in their previous game. It was a cold night to say the least with players even wearing balaclavas in the freezing conditions.
The USA won 3-0 against the side bottom of the table. The win left them in second place, four points behind Canada. They are only above third-placed Mexico on goal difference, but four points clear of Panama (who reached the last finals) in fourth. The top three automatically qualify for the finals. Fourth takes you into the Inter-Confederation play-offs.
Up next for America are two tough games. March 24 sees the USA travel to Mexico. Fourth-placed Panama are home to Honduras and will be expecting three points. The USA really needs to get something from that game in Mexico.
Away form in this World Cup qualifying group has been a major concern. Five matches have only produced five points. Just the one win and that was a 4-1 victory in Honduras, who have just three points (and no wins) from their 11 games.
The USA has been held to draws in El Salvador and Jamaica. They are the other two countries in the bottom three and more than a couple of points should have been earned against them. Trips to Canada and Panama both ended in defeats. They’ve only scored in two of their away qualifiers, so you can see why there are concerns over the trip to Mexico.
The Mexicans are unbeaten at home but were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica earlier this month. A win there would put them two points clear of the USA. The reverse fixture saw two late goals win the match for the Americans. A repeat of that in Mexico would take them so close to qualification. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster, a loss would be.
Their penultimate qualifier is on March 27. That’s when the USA host Panama in a crucial match. Winning that game would all but see the USA qualify. Six home qualifiers have so far produced five victories and a draw with Canada. Panama has beaten the bottom two on their travels but lost their other four. All seems set for a home win.
If matters do go wrong, then it could go down to the final away game in Costa Rica. The nightmare of the last qualification campaign dares not be repeated but all being well, the USA are on their way to Qatar.
After taking part in seven consecutive finals, the American team missed out in 2018. They were going well in the qualifiers but then defeats by Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago saw them eliminated.
Making it to Qatar for the finals that are being held in November and December of this year, is vital for the American team. Not making it to Russia in 2018 was a big step backward for an American team that had reached the last 16 in the two previous tournaments.
With three games to go, the chances of making it to the finals are looking good but there are two big hurdles to face in their next couple of matches.
Their last qualifier was a home game against Honduras on February 2. Winning that game was of paramount importance after being beaten by table-toppers Canada in their previous game. It was a cold night to say the least with players even wearing balaclavas in the freezing conditions.
The USA won 3-0 against the side bottom of the table. The win left them in second place, four points behind Canada. They are only above third-placed Mexico on goal difference, but four points clear of Panama (who reached the last finals) in fourth. The top three automatically qualify for the finals. Fourth takes you into the Inter-Confederation play-offs.
Up next for America are two tough games. March 24 sees the USA travel to Mexico. Fourth-placed Panama are home to Honduras and will be expecting three points. The USA really need to get something from that game in Mexico.
Away form in this World Cup qualifying group has been a major concern. Five matches have only produced five points. Just the one win and that was a 4-1 victory in Honduras, who have just three points (and no wins) from their 11 games.
The USA has been held to draws in El Salvador and Jamaica. They are the other two countries in the bottom three and more than a couple of points should have been earned against them. Trips to Canada and Panama both ended in defeats. They’ve only scored in two of their away qualifiers, so you can see why there are concerns over the trip to Mexico.
The Mexicans are unbeaten at home but were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica earlier this month. A win there would put them two points clear of the USA. The reverse fixture saw two late goals win the match for the Americans. A repeat of that in Mexico would take them so close to qualification. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster, a loss would be.
Their penultimate qualifier is on March 27. That’s when the USA host Panama in a crucial match. Winning that game would all but see the USA qualify. Six home qualifiers have so far produced five victories and a draw with Canada. Panama has beaten the bottom two on their travels but lost their other four. All seems set for a home win.
If matters do go wrong, then it could go down to the final away game in Costa Rica. The nightmare of the last qualification campaign dares not be repeated but all being well, the USA are on their way to Qatar.
There are some nervous times ahead for the USA soccer team. They have three games remaining in their bid to reach the 2022 World Cup finals.
After taking part in seven consecutive finals, the American team missed out in 2018. They were going well in the qualifiers but then defeats by Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago saw them eliminated.
Making it to Qatar for the finals that are being held in November and December of this year, is vital for the American team. Not making it to Russia in 2018 was a big step backward for an American team that had reached the last 16 in the two previous tournaments.
With three games to go, the chances of making it to the finals are looking good but there are two big hurdles to face in their next couple of matches.
Their last qualifier was a home game against Honduras on February 2. Winning that game was of paramount importance after being beaten by table-toppers Canada in their previous game. It was a cold night to say the least with players even wearing balaclavas in the freezing conditions.
The USA won 3-0 against the side bottom of the table. The win left them in second place, four points behind Canada. They are only above third-placed Mexico on goal difference, but four points clear of Panama (who reached the last finals) in fourth. The top three automatically qualify for the finals. Fourth takes you into the Inter-Confederation play-offs.
Up next for America are two tough games. March 24 sees the USA travel to Mexico. Fourth-placed Panama are home to Honduras and will be expecting three points. The USA really need to get something from that game in Mexico.
Away form in this World Cup qualifying group has been a major concern. Five matches have only produced five points. Just the one win and that was a 4-1 victory in Honduras, who have just three points (and no wins) from their 11 games.
The USA has been held to draws in El Salvador and Jamaica. They are the other two countries in the bottom three and more than a couple of points should have been earned against them. Trips to Canada and Panama both ended in defeats. They’ve only scored in two of their away qualifiers, so you can see why there are concerns over the trip to Mexico.
The Mexicans are unbeaten at home but were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica earlier this month. A win there would put them two points clear of the USA. The reverse fixture saw two late goals win the match for the Americans. A repeat of that in Mexico would take them so close to qualification. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster, a loss would be.
Their penultimate qualifier is on March 27. That’s when the USA host Panama in a crucial match. Winning that game would all but see the USA qualify. Six home qualifiers have so far produced five victories and a draw with Canada. Panama has beaten the bottom two on their travels but lost their other four. All seems set for a home win.
If matters do go wrong, then it could go down to the final away game in Costa Rica. The nightmare of the last qualification campaign dares not be repeated but all being well, the USA are on their way to Qatar.
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
