WORLD CUP 2022
Do Mexico or USA need to play any more World Cup qualifying games?
After meeting each other in Cincinnati on Friday, two hopefuls for a place in FIFA's 2022 Qatar World Cup have plenty more to do. Here's what...
The somewhat controversial 2022 World Cup in Qatar is just one year away and national teams are aiming to get their final qualification points accrued in order to ensure that they form part of the global occasion.
World Cup Qatar 2022: schedule for USA and Mexico
FIFA’s showpiece tournament runs from 21 November to 18 December 2022. After their latest clash, which saw the USA beat Mexico 2-0 in Cincinnati, both teams have seven remaining games left to secure their place at the top table - a generously large one, I should point out - of world football. Hitting the road to Canada and Mexico are likely to be the biggest challenges to the USMNT but there’s unlikely to be many easy games over the coming months.
USA remaining games:
- 16 Nov 2021 - Jamaica (A)
- 27 Jan 2022 - El Salvador (H)
- 30 Jan 2022 - Canada (A)
- 2 Feb 2022 - Honduras (H)
- 24 March - Mexico (A)
- 27 March - Panama (H)
- 30 March - Costa Rica (A)
For Mexico, it’s a similar route ahead, with every point won vital to their own qualification hopes.
Mexico remaining games:
- 17 Nov 2021 - Canada (A)
- 27 Jan 2022 - Jamaica (A)
- 30 Jan 2022 - Costa Rica (H)
- 2 Feb 2022 - Panama (H)
- 24 March - USA (H)
- 27 March - Honduras (A)
- 30 March - El Salvador (H)
CONCACAF: how it stands
Following Friday's games, we are a little closer to knowing who is likely to be eyeing up one of the berths of the World Cup draw which will take place on 1 April 2022, no joke, in Doha. As well as hosts Qatar, we already know that Brazil, Germany and Denmark will be there. In the USA and Mexico's qualifying group, let's have a look at the current standings.
CONCACAF standings:
| Team | Points | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
| 1. USA | 14 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | +7 |
| 2. Mexico | 14 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 |
| 3. Canada | 13 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | +7 |
| 4. Panama | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 |
| 5. Costa Rica | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 6. Jamaica | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 |
| 7. El Salvador | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| 8. Honduras | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -9 |
Of course, there is always the chance following all the remaining matches that teams will finish on the same points as each other. Fear not, though, as FIFA has a plan. Here’s a list of how sides will be ordered if they cannot be separated on points total.
Tiebreaker rules:
- Goal difference in all group matches
- Most goals scored in all group matches
- Most points obtained from group matches between teams concerned
- Goal difference from group matches between teams concerned
- Most goals scored in group matches between teams concerned
- Goals scored away from home (if two teams are tied)
- Discipline points (based on yellow/red cards)
- Drawing of lots by FIFA
Plenty more action on the pitch still ahead for us, and here on AS USA you'll never miss a moment.