When do USMNT play next in 2022 World Cup qualifying? Schedule & dates
After a slow start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, the United States have won two on the bounce and now lead CONCACAF's eight-team group.
Ricardo Pepi’s double against Jamaica on Thursday gave the United States men’s national team a winning start to a triple-header of World Cup qualifying fixtures in October’s international week.
USMNT now lead World Cup qualifying group
FC Dallas striker Pepi, who was making only his second USMNT appearance since choosing to represent America ahead of Mexico, netted twice in the second half in Austin, as Gregg Berhalter’s men secured a 2-0 victory over the Reggae Boyz and moved to the top of CONCACAF’s eight-team final qualifying group.
Seeking to return to the World Cup finals after failing to reach the tournament in 2018, the USMNT had made a stuttering start to their Qatar 2022 qualifying bid, drawing with El Salvador and Canada in their first two group matches last month.
However, they then kick-started their campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Honduras in their final September international, before seeing off the Jamaicans this week.
Mexico’s draw with Canada on Thursday - Jonathan Osorio’s equaliser earning the Canadians a point at the Estadio Azteca - meant the USMNT leapfrogged El Tri in first place on goal difference.
The top three in the group will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the fourth-placed finisher going into a two-legged inter-confederation play-off in June 2022.
Panama trip up next for the USMNT
The USMNT now visit Panama, whose dramatic late win over Costa Rica four years ago ensured they qualified for Russia 2018 at the Stars and Stripes’ expense. The sides meet at Panama City’s Estadio Rommel Fernández on Sunday 10 October, with kick-off at 5pm local time (6pm ET, 3pm PT).
After beating Jamaica and drawing with Costa Rica and Mexico in September, Panama went down 1-0 to Honduras on Thursday and currently sit fourth in the group, three points off the top.
The Panamians have never beaten the USMNT in World Cup qualifying, with their only victories over the Americans coming at the 2011 and 2015 Gold Cups. The US have won the teams’ last four meetings, scoring 14 goals in the process.
Visit of Costa Rica rounds off October qualifiers
On Wednesday 13th, the USMNT then conclude their October qualifying fixtures by hosting a so far winless Costa Rica in Columbus, with kick-off at Lower.com Field set for 7pm ET/4pm PT.
After drawing with Panama and Jamaica and losing to Mexico in their opening qualifiers in September, the Costa Ricans played out a goalless stalemate with Honduras on Thursday, to leave them lying sixth in the group, five points behind the US. Before travelling to Ohio, Luis Fernando Suárez’s side take on El Salvador in San José on Sunday.
Like the USMNT, Costa Rica have missed out on the World Cup only once so far this century. The US have won their last three games against the Costa Ricans - all friendlies - but were beaten home and away by the central Americans in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying: USMNT's results and remaining fixtures
2 September 2021: El Salvador 0-0 USMNT
5 September 2021: USMNT 1-1 Canada
8 September 2021: Honduras 1-4 USMNT
7 October 2021: USMNT 2-0 Jamaica
10 October 2021: Panama vs USMNT
13 October 2021: USMNT vs Costa Rica
12 November 2021: USMNT vs Mexico
16 November 2021: Jamaica vs USMNT
27 January 2022: USMNT vs El Salvador
30 January 2022: Canada vs USMNT
2 February 2022: USMNT vs Honduras
24 March 2022: Mexico vs USMNT
27 March 2022: USMNT vs Panama
30 March 2022: Costa Rica vs USMNT