World Cup qualifiers

The USMNT finishes off its 2022 World Cup qualifying slate, and all roads point toward officially clinching a spot at the tournament in Qatar, ...

Historically, the U.S. has scored one goal or fewer in every World Cup qualifying match in Costa Rica except one. Tim Weah returns from his yellow card suspension to start on the wing, as Paul Arriola was withdrawn at halftime of the Panama match with a knock and does not appear on the bench. U.S. fans have been mulling over how Berhalter should play this match, but the sportsbooks aren't looking at this match with such a complicated lens. Christian Pulisic starts for the third match of three, but the captain's armband goes to Walker Zimmerman this time. Can the U.S. secure a spot in the tournament and position itself to be playing with this adidas beauty come November? And unlike Costa Rica, unless disaster strikes, yellow card suspensions are no longer a worry, as those do not carry over into the World Cup itself. 8:03 p.m.: USA lineup has been submitted, and it's a strong one, with the U.S. not backing down despite overwhelming odds in its favor. 23rd min: Keylor Navas delivers one of the most devastating goal kicks you'll ever see, taking it quickly and putting it on a platter for a lone Costa Rican attacker chasing the ball in the attacking half, but Tyler Adams does one better and sprints the length of the field and completes the challenge to win the ball back. A worry for the U.S. First real chance of the match falls to the visitors. 13th min: CHANCE, USA! Timothy springs Ricardo Pepi down the right, and the U.S. striker rips a shot from a tight angle that Navas has covered. If nothing else, the scoreless game is a step closer to World Cup qualification.

USA and Costa Rica compete tonight in the CONCACAF game that determines if USMNT qualifies for the World Cup. Here's where and when to watch the game.

Traditionally, the World Cup is held every four years during the summer months. Costa Rica is in a tougher position, currently sitting fourth in the table. And how can you watch the game? They are locked into fourth at worst, with the unlikely hope of surpassing the U.S. or Mexico for a top-three spot. Finishing fourth would send Costa Rica to the inter-confederation playoff, where they would face the Oceania winner in June with a chance to qualify for the World Cup. Even a 5-0 loss would send the Americans to the World Cup. The USMNT is currently tied with Mexico for second in the CONCACAF table, with the top three teams automatically qualifying for the World Cup. After a resounding 5-1 win over Panama on Sunday to move their goal differential to +13, the U.S. is in a prime position.

The two nations are placed second and third, respectively, in the CONCACAF Octagonal, with Costa Rica three points behind both of them in fourth place.

Jamaica-Honduras is a dead rubber clash, but El Salvador still has a role to play tonight at Estadio Azteca. Can former United States international Hugo Pérez contribute one last shock for his old program, leading El Salvador to an upset over Mexico (and a Costa Rica win) in hopes of overturning a goal differential disparity? Going into tonight's game, there was some discourse about whether the United States should play a full-strength lineup or save some key players like Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic from additional wear. Fellow card carriers like midfielder Celso Borges and defenders Francisco Calvo and Keysher Fuller were left off the bench altogether. Hot start for the— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) #USMNT! #CRCvUSA Keylor Navas with a super-save so far, denying Miles Robinson just centimeters away from the goal-line. Possibly the strongest start away from home this team has managed in all of qualification. Automatic qualification is 45 minutes away for Mexico, as Raul Jiménez converts from the penalty spot to double their lead. With this 2-0 result and a USMNT tie, Mexico would finish second in the Octagonal, dropping the Americans to third. The Cruz Azul attacker was given the start tonight and he has delivered a first-half performance that Tata Martino will savor. Paramount+, TUDN (U.S.) Paramount+, Telemundo Deportes (U.S.) The two nations are placed second and third, respectively, in the CONCACAF Octagonal, with Costa Rica three points behind both of them in fourth place.

All the USMNT had to do to qualify for the World Cup was forfeit and take a 3-0 loss, instead they played soccer. Costa Rica would need to win by six or win ...

If you watch the replay, the ball clearly strikes the back of the net and then bounces back to hit Zack Steffen in the head... It might have been a loss, but at the end of the day the USMNT has achieved its goal of qualifying for the World Cup. As it wound down, the match seemed to lose its steam. Occasional sloppy defending hasn’t been badly punished by opponents of the USA so far in qualifying, but the backline failed to clear three chances following a Costa Rica set piece and punishment was doled out. Miles Robinson did manage a shot that Keylor Navas initially dropped, it looked like maybe the ball would backspin it’s way into goal, but it wasn’t meant to be. Costa Rica’s 4-4-2/5-4-1 formation did what it was meant to do and gave the USA possession, but pressed the Americans to slow their build up in the back, and then fell back into well organized blocks of four or five and four. Following the goal, Weah, Yedlin, and Pepi made way for Gio Reyna, Shaq Moore, and Jesus Ferreira. Things then calmed down and the Ticos stopped scoring every eight minutes. The USA didn’t need to win but couldn’t lose by more than six but wanted to win for the first time in Costa Rica. It almost felt like a really important friendly. The Americans then forced Navas into another save and... The Americans set out a strong lineup as Gregg Berhalter sought to finish the qualifying campaign with a win. Or there’d have to be an even more improbable set of events to see the Ticos eliminated. Notably, Berhalter went with a more defensive option in midfield with Kellyn Acosta getting the start of Luca de la Torre.

The United States men's national team arrived at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on Wednesday having all but qualified for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

They pushed the ball forward and kept on the attack, but were slowed by fouls and tight defending. But the USA would never quite regain the momentum or control the pace of the match. The opening minutes of the second half saw the United States’ best chance on goal. As for the hosts, the atmosphere was celebratory and hopeful. The 35,062-seat bandbox was packed and cheering. Had lightning struck, the worst-case scenario was an intercontinental playoff with New Zealand in June.

After beating the USA, Costa Rica finished World Cup qualifiers in fourth place and will face New Zealand in a playoff for a World Cup berth.

Jewison Bennette drove in a low cross and Contreras bundled in the finish from close range. Despite the early effort from USA, it was Costa Rica who took the lead in the 51st minute. However, Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas parried away the shot, before Timothy Weah’s follow-up was blocked.