USA TODAY International Edition
How USA can qualify
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO The U.S. men’s national team’s chances of making the World Cup in Russia next summer remain up in the air despite Friday’s win over Panama in Orlando. That 4-0 success simplified the formula somewhat, but the easiest way to remove all the computations is for Bruce Arena’s side to secure its first road victory of the final round of qualifying. How it all breaks down going into Tuesday’s match against Trinidad and Tobago.
IF THE USA WINS
It qualifies for the 2018 World Cup by finishing in third place in the CONCACAF region.
IF THE USA TIES
The USA will almost certainly still qualify. The only way the USA could drop out of third place would be if Panama beats Costa Rica by eight goals or Honduras beats Mexico by 12 goals. In the unthinkable event that both those happened, a tie would eliminate the USA. If one of them happened, a tie would put the USA into a playoff against Australia or Syria in November.
IF THE USA LOSES
If Panama beats Costa Rica and Honduras beats Mexico, the USA would be eliminated and miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986. If Panama and Honduras lose, the USA would qualify in third place. And if Panama or Honduras win but the other ties or loses, then the USA would finish fourth and go into that Syria/Australia playoff.