The US and Mexico booked tickets for this yr’s World Cup in Qatar for the ultimate spherical of CONCACAF qualifiers on Wednesday.
And the USA, who missed the 2018 version, misplaced 2-0 to Costa Rica, however they nonetheless led with the Mexicans who beat El Salvador 2-0.
Canada, who certified on Sunday, misplaced 1-0 to Panama however completed high of the group.
Costa Rica completed fourth within the standings and can face New Zealand in an intercontinental qualifier in Qatar in June for one more place within the finals.
Within the ultimate spherical of CONCACAF qualifiers, the USA knew that successful, drawing or dropping by lower than six targets would assure a return to the World Cup Finals.
Costa Rica took the lead within the 51st minute from Juan Pablo Vargas’ header earlier than Anthony Contreras doubled the lead from shut vary shortly after.
The US, whose squad consists of solely 4 gamers from the crew that didn’t make it to Russia in 2018, held regular the remainder of the best way to make sure qualification.
Uriel Antona put Mexico forward from the left aspect of the six-yard space within the seventeenth minute earlier than Raul Jimenez awarded a penalty simply earlier than the top of the primary half.
The US misplaced to Costa Rica, however nonetheless certified for the World Cup
Canada couldn’t end a powerful qualifying marketing campaign with a victory in Panama, who had been knocked out of the competitors by the USA on Sunday.
Gabriel Torres scored the one purpose of the match for Panama in the beginning of the second half, hitting the web from contained in the penalty space.
Canada, who made seven modifications to the squad from Sunday’s sport, thought they tied it by means of Kyle Larrain’s header, however had been dominated out for offside after a video evaluation.
“For these boys, this has been a hell of a trip,” Canada coach John Herdman stated. “Right here we’re, on the high of the group… On our strategy to Qatar, that is all we dreamed of, as CONCACAF champions.”
The US, Mexico and Canada will collectively host the 2026 World Cup.
Hey New Zealand coach: The qualifiers are nonetheless very troublesome
New Zealand coach Danny Hay was additionally proud that his crew had superior within the Oceania qualifiers with a file 100 per cent, however he has no illusions that reaching the World Cup finals stays a troublesome activity.
The white crew, who performs in black, took a giant step in the direction of qualifying for the finals for the primary time since 2010 with a 5-0 victory over Solomon Islands within the Oceania qualifiers ultimate in Qatar.
To succeed in the finals, New Zealand now need to beat Costa Rica in a one-time playoff in Qatar in mid-June.
Costa Rica will now face New Zealand for a spot within the 2023 World Cup
“I used to be actually happy with the skilled method the gamers dealt with issues. We got here right here to do work and we did it. Now we are able to take a break, rejoice and look ahead,” Hay stated.
“The reality is we’re 90 minutes away from attending to the World Cup, which is thrilling for the nation. We have all the time believed within the course of we put in place, and for this group of gamers, I can not converse extremely sufficient of them.”
Three of New Zealand’s 5 targets towards the Solomon Islands got here from headers, with central defender Invoice Tuiluma scoring twice and Newcastle United striker Chris Wooden one other to internet his fifth purpose in the identical variety of matches within the match.
Nonetheless, their hopes of successful a ticket to Qatar could rely extra on a stingy protection that conceded only one purpose in the course of the 5 matches.
“They’ve some world-class gamers and so they’re already hitting their belts in the direction of the top of their qualifying marketing campaign,” Hay added. “It may be very troublesome, however the reality is we expect we’re in a very good area.”
