USMNT Qualifies For World Cup For First Time Since 2014

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Pictured: USA fans at Nissan Stadium for the World Cup Qualifier between the USMNT and Canada. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

For the first time in eight years, the United States Men’s National Team has qualified for the World Cup, finishing third in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers.

On Wednesday night (March 30) the USMNT lost 2-0 to Costa Rica but, because of their large goal differential, Costa Rica needed to score six un-answered goals to take America’s place.

The USA joins Canada and Mexico as the confederations three automatic berths while Costa Rica will have to face New Zealand in a one-game playoff for the final World Cup spot.

“We’re really excited and really proud. It’s a lot of hard work and sacrifice that goes on behind the scenes and we couldn’t be happier to qualify with this group,” said USMNT captain and Nashville SC defenseman Walker Zimmerman in a postgame press conference. “Everyone’s made sacrifices and overcome adversity to end up here. Despite the loss, we put ourselves in that position to have a little bit of wriggle room. As a competitor, we’re not happy about the result, but at the end of the day we qualified for the World Cup and we’re going to celebrate that.”

Walker Zimmerman. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

During the month of March, the U.S. picked up a key 0-0 draw against Mexico on the 24th to keep them in the top of the table. Then, on March 27 the team won a huge 5-1 matchup against Panama, increasing its goal differential.

“Being the youngest team in the world to qualify for the World Cup is no easy task,” added head coach Gregg Berhalter. “But we saw the resilience of the team, the strong mentality, and absolute focus to reach our goal. All in all we’re really proud of the guys and the way they competed throughout these 14 games.”

The U.S. has historically struggled when playing on Costa Rican soil. After Wednesday’s loss, the USA is 0-10-1 in qualifiers played in Costa Rica, with the only result coming in a 1-1 draw on May 26, 1985 in Alajuela. The USMNT is 19-17-6 all-time against Costa Rica and 7-12-3 vs. Los Ticos in qualifying.

Next up is the World Cup Draw in Qatar which will take place on Friday, April 1 at 11 a.m. CT. The U.S. is in pot two alongside Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Uruguay and rival Mexico.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage begins on Nov. 21 and the final will take place in Lusail, Qatar on Dec. 18.

Steven Boero
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