What the USMNT has to do to clinch a spot in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifying
The United States head into the final two matches of the semifinal round of 2018 World Cup qualifying with nothing assured. They have not clinched their spot in the Hex and, come Tuesday, they might be out of the running for the 2018 World Cup altogether. But that's an unlikely scenario. The Americans are still favored to advance to the next round, and they could do it as soon as Friday.
Heading into the penultimate match for the semifinal round against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday, the Americans are second place in their group. That's a fine position to be in because the top two teams in the group advance. Trinidad and Tobago lead the group with 10 points, three clear of the U.S., while Guatemala are right on the Americans' heels with six points.
If the U.S. beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guatemala lose to Trinidad and Tobago, the Americans will have clinched a spot in the final round of qualifying. That's possible, with the U.S. heavy favorites to take down the Vincy Heat, while Trinidad and Tobago are a better team than Guatemala. The problem is that T&T only need a draw to clinch a spot in the next round so the Soca Warriors may not push too hard and Guatemala snagging a point is plenty possible.
In the event the Americans fail to beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines or Guatemala manages a result against Trinidad and Tobago, attention will turn to Tuesday. That's not something particularly appealing to the U.S. -- needing a result on the final day to advance from the semifinal round where the next best team in their group is ranked 68th in the world hardly inspires confidence -- but they were in the same position four years ago, got a win on the final day to advance and then went on to make the World Cup, where they went to the round of 16. It's far from disastrous.
The good news for the U.S. is that they will definitely advance if they win their last two matches, so they control their own destiny. Nothing Guatemala or anyone else does can change that. Two wins -- one against the 156th ranked team in the world and the other at home against a team outside of the top 50 -- is hardly a tall task and it's all that stands between the U.S. and advancement. But you can bet they'll be rooting for Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, just to wrap things up and be done with it all.
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