Mexico and the United States have joined Qatar in guaranteeing pre-qualification for the 2022 World Cup, with their host El Salvador winning 2-0 in the first leg and their second defeat in the same match against rival Costa Rica. International play-off with New Zealand in the final fourteenth round of the decisive third round of the CONCACAF Qualifiers (North and Central America and the Caribbean).
With the draw scheduled for Friday in Doha, the number of qualifiers for the final has risen to 29, with three additional matches pending next June.
Canada lost their qualifiers 0-1 to Panama, with 28 points at the top of the group, one goal difference from Mexico, while the US team finished third on 25 points with a goal but equal to Costa Rica. Difference in its support (+11 vs. +5).
This is the 17th appearance in the final for Mexico and the eighth in a row after qualifying for the 16th round in the last seven, with El “Team reaching the quarter-finals twice in 1970. And 1986 home.
Mexico needed a point to confirm its worth, but Argentina coach Tata Martino’s men beat El Salvador by goals from Carlos Oriel Antonia (17) and striker Raல்l Jimenez (43 penalty kicks).
– ambiguous feeling –
On the other hand, with the exception of the event that was crushed by six goals, the loss did not significantly affect the American team that guaranteed its merit.
Although Costa Rica scored twice within 8 minutes of the second half in San Jose, first by defender Juan Pablo Vargas (51) and then by striker Anthony Contreras (59), this did not prevent the U.S. team from recording a direct qualifying card.
“I’m very proud of this team,” said American star Christian Pulisic. “Now this feeling is paradoxical because I hate defeat so much. But I’m proud and I can not wait to go to the World Cup.”
“It’s not easy to come to these countries and play, we know, we fought for most of the game, we’ve been in the top three at the end of the day, we’ve gone to the World Cup, so we have to be. Proud,” Chelsea Winger continued.
After failing to participate in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the US team qualified after its dreams were shattered by a sudden defeat against Trinidad and Tobago.
Coach Greg Berholder’s men had their last big win of 5-1 against Panama in Orlando just in time as he made a good difference in goals with Costa Rica in the fight for third place.
The United States enters the final for the 11th time in its history, while its best result in the first edition in 1930 reached the semifinals, when only 13 teams competed. Quarter final of the 2002 edition.
The fourth Costa Rica is Qatar, which is scheduled to play in the World Cup qualifiers from November 21 to December 18, as it takes part in the international play-offs against New Zealand in June.
Canada qualified for the final for the second time in its history, leaving the group stage for the first time in 1986 with three defeats.
In a small match, Jamaica, ranked sixth in the combined group, defeated its Honduras (2-1), which ended the third round without a win.
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