The USMNT has one foot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but qualification is far from secure. There are painful wounds that serve to remind of such hubris.
Fans will have nightmares about the previous cycle, how everything came crashing down at the end. Heading into the final two matches, the U.S. needed a slew of results against them to prevent qualification to the 2018 World Cup. Those fears came to fruition.
With a loss to Trinidad & Tobago partnered alongside outside results, the United States watched in horror as Panama and Honduras both leaped into qualifying positions and leaving the United States shockingly on the outside.
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The USMNT will now look to avoid a similar scenario as the March international window brings the final three qualifiers of the 2022 World Cup cycle. Here’s what the United States needs to do to prevent lightning from striking twice.
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings
Coming into the March qualifiers, the United States sits second in the Octagonal table, four points behind Canada. The top three spots are automatic qualifiers, while fourth place earns a spot in the intercontinental playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.
It has been a tight fit at the top for most of qualification, but eventually both the U.S. and Mexico, who sit level on 21 points, opened up a four-point lead over fourth-placed Panama, which gives both some breathing room.
As it stands, only Honduras…
