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While most of the US National Team’s first-team players are enjoying the twilight of a runaway victory over Mexico and beginning their summer holidays, their path to next year’s World Cup has been set.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF, this month 29 low-ranked nations competed for three available spots in the final round of World Cup qualifiers, which will feature eight teams for the first time. The competition ended on Tuesday night, with Canada, El Salvador and Panama out of the group. They will join the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica in the octagon, a two-cycle challenge of which three nations will book a passage to Qatar (they will enter their fourth Intercontinental playoff). It starts with three games in early September.
Tuesday’s results finalized most of the US playoff schedule – specific venues remain to be determined. The Americans have difficulty at first, with trips to El Salvador and Honduras in a home match against Canada. For the first time, thanks to delays caused by the pandemic, the World Cup qualifier windows will see three matches. The intense travel and schedule – not to mention the harsh conditions at many CONCACAF locations – should present challenges to a US program full of young players who lack qualifying experience.
The last four-game period in the United States in 11 days, which included the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals and final in Denver, was designed in part to mimic the logistics of a World Cup window. The friendly match that took place on May 30 in Switzerland was the player’s last match for the clubs before the international break and a transatlantic journey. This was followed by three matches on the rise: the duo in Colorado and then a friendly match last week against Costa Rica outside Salt Lake City. It was a test of organization and adaptation. Although USA coach Greg Berhalter has given most of the Nations League players a break against Ticos, he will still have information on how they recover and train after the first three competitions.
“What I realized was that it would take a group to do that,” Berhalter said of qualifying. “It won’t take 11 novice players. We need the whole group.”
Isaiah J. Downing / USA TODAY Sports
Shortly after defeating Costa Rica, 4-0, the manager said, “Play on bets, play for [the Nations League] The cup was really important. But it was very important to return [against Costa Rica] And good performance. We set a goal of getting nine points this week, and we did. And I think it took a lot of mental fortitude, a lot of mental strength to get to the strength we needed to win this match today.”
More consistency will be needed starting in September, when the United States faces two matches in Central America. There, height is not a problem. But heat, humidity, field conditions, noisy crowds, and more usually make the experience uncomfortable and unpredictable. Of the 14 players who appeared in the last Central American qualifiers, a 1-1 draw with Honduras in September 2017, only three are in the September window: Christian Pulisic, Klein Acosta and Paul Areola.
“It’s definitely what this is about,” striker Brenden Aaronson said of this month’s schedule. “I think it’s a prep for all of us. We haven’t. A lot of us haven’t, you know? It’s a good prep.”
While his European key players take the summer break, Berhalter will have a chance to get a good look at the rest of the American pool during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which kicks off on July 10 and runs until the August 1 final. As he said, “the whole squad” will be called up during the playoffs, so it’s likely that several player lists will be won or confirmed next month.
In the meantime, here’s a look at the tentative schedule for the US World Cup qualifiers as it is after Tuesday’s games. Specific dates are listed by US Soccer but are subject to change within window limits:
September 2 – in El Salvador
The United States last played at Cuscatlán Stadium in San Salvador, the largest stadium in Central America, in March 2009. The playoffs ended in a 2-2 draw. The US is 2-1-3 all the time in El Salvador. The hosts are currently coached by former US international coach and US youth coach, Hugo Perez. His nephew, former American youth international Joshua Perez, is a US-born Las Vegas player who scored three goals in the early qualifying rounds.
September 5 – vs Canada
American football is hoping to finish and announce its first home playoff stadium by the end of July. A site that facilitates travel to and from Central America seems likely.
September 8 – in Honduras
A trip to Honduras means a trip to the Stadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, where the United States respects a 3-1-1. The last match there was the aforementioned standoff in 2017.
October 7 – vs. Jamaica
An embarrassing setback in the 2015 Gold Cup semi-final against the Reggie Boyz in Atlanta should stop anyone feeling overconfident ahead of this game.
October 10 – in Panama
The US is 3-0-2 at all times in Panama. Los Canaleros’ surprise in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers was at the expense of the Americans.
October 13 – vs. Costa Rica
The last playoff game at home against Los Ticos was disastrous – a 2-0 loss at Red Bull Arena in September 2017 that cost Bruce Arena’s men crucial points.
November 12 – vs Mexico
The new Columbus Crew Stadium Lower.com and Allianz Field at Minnesota United appear to be the main candidates to host the high-profile showdown between the United States and El Tree.
November 16 – in Jamaica
The US is 3-1-5 at all times in Kingston. The last game in the Jamaican capital was a 2-1 win in June 2013.
Jan 27 – vs. savior
January 30 – in Canada
The site of Berhalter’s lowest moment as coach of the United States – a comprehensive 2-0 Nations League loss at BMO Field in Toronto in October 2019. Canada had not reached the final round of World Cup qualifying since the 1998 tournament.
February 2 – vs. Honduras
March 24 – in Mexico
The Octagonal home extension begins at the Estadio Azteca, where the United States have been unbeaten in their past three visits – a friendly win in 2012 followed by a playoff draw in 2013 and 17.
March 27 – vs Panama
March 30 – in Costa Rica
The US’s luck in Costa Rica was tough, with the score being 0-9-2 the entire time (including eight consecutive losses).
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