The USMNT is back in the World Cup after great performances against Mexico and Panama earned the nation automatic qualification to Qatar. Not much more can be said about Wednesday night's loss in Costa Rica because at this point, all the United States does is lose in Costa Rica, even if the plan to lay the qualifying ghosts to rest with a historic win actually resulted in a worse margin of defeat than in Trinidad.
It’s not time to celebrate just yet, but USMNT fans can breathe a little more easily now. What USMNT needs to qualify for World Cup 2022 is to avoid catastrophe on the final day of qualifying.
Las eliminatorias Concacaf para el Mundial 2022 viven sus últimas horas y México aún no saca los boletos a Catar.
Ghana — respected eternal rival of the USMNT and leader in the nations' all-time World Cup series — has secured its place in Qatar, where the Black Stars will undoubtedly meet the Americans, after a heroic elimination of favored Nigeria in Abuja.
Over the weekend, Lionel Messi made headlines by hinting at his international retirement following the World Cup.
When the yin speaks then the yang must respond.
On Monday, Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the press ahead of Portugal's decisive World Cup playoff against North Macedonia, and Ronaldo also made headlines by hinting at an international career that could go on forever and ever.
The USMNT all but clinched a spot at the World Cup by hammering Panama 5-1 on Sunday night in Orlando, although a trip to Costa Rica remains on Wednesday with the smallest possibility that the American's passage could be delayed via a six-goal defeat.
PORTO, Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo is excited about the return of experienced defender Pepe to the Portugal squad after he missed Thursday's 3-1 win over Turkey due to COVID-19.
"The king is back! Pepe is back in the house! Look out!" a smiling Ronaldo shouted before Portugal's training session on a warm and sunny Sunday morning in Porto as the 39-year-old defender emerged from the dressing room.
United States head coach Gregg Berhalter is urging his players to stay "in the moment" ahead of Sunday's World Cup qualifier at home to Panama with a shot at reaching the finals on the line.
The U.S. battled to a 0-0 draw away to Mexico on Thursday and sit three points behind leaders Canada in the CONCACAF group standings. They are tied with Mexico on 22 points but are above them in second place on goal difference.
Back in 2017, with two matches remaining in the World Cup qualifying cycle and the USMNT on the outside, looking in, Alexi Lalas went ballistic post-match on FS1 after a 1-1 draw between the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy. Lalas' tirade was directed at "the supposed leaders" of the U.S. squad, and criticized them for, among other things, having tattoos and being Jozy Altidore.
The USMNT shouldn’t and doesn’t need help to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Gregg Berhalter’s side controls its own destiny to make it to Qatar this winter. But it’s never a bad idea to have backup plan, and America’s neighbor to the north is on standby to bail the USMNT out should it fail against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica.