SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA - The United States men are returning to the World Cup after a trauma of missing out on the 2018 tournament, despite a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on the final night in Qatar on Wednesday for this year's championship got a berth. Eligibility.
Juan Pablo Vargas overtook Walker Zimmermann and made a corner kick from Brandon Aguilera ahead of goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the 51st minute, and Anthony Contreras knocked him into a melee cross in the 59th minute, when Stefan scored a free kick. But couldn't catch it.
A sell-out crowd of about 35,000 came to life at the National Stadium, but the Americans scored a huge goal-gap over Costa Rica after beating Panama 5-1 last weekend. This meant the U.S. had to claim an automatic berth by ending up among the top three countries in North and Central America and the Caribbean. had to avoid losing by only six goals or more.
The American players on the bench took to the field as soon as the final whistle blew and exchanged handshakes and hugs with their end-game teammates, while home fans cheered for the Ticos.
"It's a proud moment for the team, a proud moment for American football," said American coach Greg Berhalter. "Team enthusiasm."
Canada, who secured their first World Cup tour since 1986 with a win on Sunday, finished first with 28 points after a 1-0 loss to Panama, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. El Trai U.S. and won their eighth consecutive World Cup, while the U.S. Finished third with 25 points and a plus-11 goal difference.
Costa Rica were fourth with 25 points and a plus-five, and Ticos will take on Oceania champions New Zealand in a one-game playoff in June for a berth in the 32-nation zone.
While the U.S. won six of the seven home games with a draw, ending with one win, three losses and three ties on the road. The Americans never won a qualifier in Costa Rica, losing 10 and drawing two.
US Ko finds out in Friday's draw which three nations he will face in the group stage, which is pushed back five months to escape the summer desert heat, with the tournament starting on November 21. Christian Pulisic & Co. is expected to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002, and the hypercritical fan base is growing.
"This group can do some damage," Berhalter said.
Defensive midfielder Tyler Adams left Wednesday's game at halftime with an injury to his left knee.
Ticos coach Luis Fernando Suárez did not start with six starts from Sunday's win in El Salvador, who took the yellow card, not wanting to risk a suspension for the playoffs.
The win came on the 1,267th day after a 2–1 loss in Trinidad and Tobago, ending the Americans' streak of seven straight World Cup appearances. Pulisic was teary-eyed after the loss, which led to the appointment of the US Soccer Federation and Berhalter as the team's fourth coach in 25 months in December 2018.
America has used 114 new players since the abolition, including 88 under Berhalter. Thirty-eight players took the field during 14 qualifiers and six others were on the roster without coming in.
Berhalter has matches in June and September to help him evaluate a pool of perhaps four dozen and choose what the roster is currently limited to 23.
A qualifying tournament, which began with fireworks over the field during the opening minutes in San Salvador, El Salvador, on 2 September, ended with more fireworks.
America traveled 25,042 miles on charters - in addition to circling the world at 24,901 - plus players had five trans-Atlantic round trips, with Germany-based Adams and England-based Antoine Robinson making the most. Games were played in St. Paul, Minnesota at 3 °C (minus-16 °C) and in Austin, Texas at 85 °C (29 °C).
Since the surprise goal of Paul Caligiuri in Trinidad before the 1990 tournament, the U.S. did not win his last game. The Americans assured themselves of berths with three games each for 2006, two for 2014 and one for 1998, 2002 and 2010. They were all with victories.
Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will not be that difficult, which spans 48 countries. The U.S., Mexico and Canada are co-hosts, and all three are expected to get automatic berths.