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WORLD CUP 2022

What do the USMNT need to do to qualify for their eleventh World Cup?

A convincing 5-1 win over Panama in Orlando has Gregg Berhalter's men in pole position to secure an automatic place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Update:
USA's Christian Pulisic (2L) celebrates after scoring a goal during US Menx92s National Teamx92s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs. Panama at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida on March 27, 2022. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
CHANDAN KHANNAAFP

The USA national team are on the cusp of qualifying for the Qatar World Cup which starts in November this year.

With a 4-0 home win over Jamaica, Canada became the first CONCACAF nation to seal their place in Qatar with the USA currently sitting second in CONCACAF’s eight-team final qualifying group, from which three countries will qualify automatically for Qatar 2022. The fourth-placed finisher will go into an inter-confederation playoff against the winner of Oceania’s qualifying tournament.

The US and Mexico are tied on 25 points with Costa Rica in fourth place on 22 points with the final two places set to be filled by two of these nations with the fourth destined for the play-off.

Final round of fixtures

Wednesday's final games in the group will determine who advances automatically to Qatar with Gregg Berhalter's men facing Costa Rica in San Jose knowing that any scoreline that avoids a loss by six or more goals will see the US at the 2022 World Cup. Despite the US's poor record away to Costa Rica with the 'Stars n' Stripes' yet to win in San Jose, never before have Costa Rica beaten the USA by a six goal margin with the closest being a 4-0 win in 2016 during the qualification process for the 2018 Russia World Cup.

Only a major debacle on Wednesday night would deprive the US of a place at the Qatar World Cup.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 24: Gregg Berhalter coach of United States looks on before a match between Mexico and United States as part of Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Azteca Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 24: Gregg Berhalter coach of United States looks on before a match between Mexico and United States as part of Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Azteca Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by HectorHector VivasGetty Images

Mexico expected to advance

Despite not over-enamoring fans of 'El Tri' with his style of play and results, Tata Martino's men are just a point away from an automatic place at the Qatar World Cup as they face El Savador in Mexico City. The result in the Costa Rica-US match could play a role in Mexico's qualification place with an (unlikely) Mexico loss coupled with a Costa Rica win by three plus goals could see 'Los Ticos' squeeze a final qualification spot at the expense of Mexico.