Mexico and USA Clinch World Cup Spot

The United States and Mexico booked their tickets for the World Cup finals in Qatar on Wednesday. After getting the results required to earn the final two automatic qualification spots from the CONCACAF region. 

The USA were defeated 2-0 by Costa Rica in San Jose to finish third in the standings, while Mexico beat El Salvador 2-0 in Mexico City to finish second overall. Costa Rica finished qualifying in the fourth position and will now face New Zealand to secure the World Cup spot in a playoff.

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Canada has completed their successful qualifying campaign by losing the loss of 1-0 at Panama the previous day, previously qualified to play in their place in the World Cup on Sunday.

AFTER WINNING ON SUNDAY, the US and Mexico have almost sealed their qualification spot. Only an unexpected set of results during the final round on Wednesday could result in either team being relegated to an automatic playoff spot.

Costa Rica needed to beat the US by at least six goals to qualify for San Jose to have a chance of qualifying.

Two goals in the second half in just eight minutes from Juan Vargas and Anthony Contreras gave hope of a miraculous win for home fans. However, they were not able to make it happen. The United States regrouped to close the match, qualifying before Costa Rica on goal difference.

“I’m extremely proud of this group,” US star Christian Pulisic said.

“It’s somewhat of an odd feeling right now since I hate losing the most. But I’m delighted, and I’m excited to be a part of this year’s World Cup.

“It’s certainly been a roller-coaster. It’s not simple to go down and have fun in these countries, and we’re well aware.

“We battled through most of it. And at the end of the day, we’re at the top three and we’re going to the World Cup so we should be proud.”

 Mexico let it through –

This United States qualification comes after their surprise failure to make the tournament of 2018 World Cup in Russia, following a shocking loss against Trinidad and Tobago shattered their campaign.

Gregg Berhalter’s team have put themselves in an unbeatable position Sunday following their demolition of Panama five-one at home to Orlando with a hat-trick by captain Pulisic.

This meant Costa Rica would need a massive victory to beat the Americans in one of the two automatic qualifying spots.

However, the US held the ‘Los Ticos’ out for long periods during the year’s first half, leaving Costa Rica’s hopes rapidly fading.

DURING THE SECOND HALF, the US nearly had the advantage when Miles Robinson’s attempt to head in from a free-kick by Pulisic was turned off by Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Timothy Weah’s retake was blocked.

After that scare, the game became Costa Rica, who took the lead at 51 minutes after Vargas scored a goal from a corner by Brandon Aguilera.

A little over an hour later, Costa Rica doubled their lead after US goalkeeper Zack Steffen flapped at a free-kick, allowing possession to be lost in a danger zone. Jewison Bennette scored a low cross before Contreras scored the goal from close distance.

This, however, was the best it could get in Costa Rica, which was incapable of gaining ground against the ferocious US defence.

Mexico completed their qualifying campaign with a win which guarantees them their tradition of playing in every World Cup since the 1994 tournament.

Mexico scored the first goal in the second half when Uriel Antuna scored in close range on 17 minutes following a rebound from a Nestor Araujo strike.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez scored twice for Wolves, then increased his Mexican advantage from the penalty area to leave “El Tri on the way to Qatar.

In the other game of Wednesday’s qualifying, Jamaica defeated Honduras 2-1.