Officially .. the selection of qualified teams for the 2022 World Cup in the "CONCACAF" region
Mexico and the United States joined Canada, the guarantor of their previous qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with the first victory over its guest El Salvador 2-0, despite the second losing by the same result against its host Costa Rica, which is in an international play-off with New Zealand, in the last fourteenth round of the decisive third round of the CONCACAF qualifiers. (North and Central America and the Caribbean).
The number of qualifiers for the finals rose to 29, pending three supplements to be held next June, after the draw scheduled for Friday in Doha.
Canada ended its qualifying campaign with a 0-1 loss to Panama, with 28 points at the top of the group, with a goal difference from Mexico, while the US team ranked third with 25 points, equal with Costa Rica, but with a goal difference in its favour (+11 vs. +5).
It is the 17th participation in the finals for Mexico and the eighth in a row after qualifying to the round of 16 in the last seven participations, noting that the best result of the "El Tre" team remains reaching the quarter-finals twice in 1970 and 1986 at home.
Mexico needed a point to ensure its qualification, but Argentine coach Tata Martino's men beat El Salvador with goals from Carlos Oriel Antonia (17) and striker Raul Jimenez (43 from a penalty kick).
- A contradictory feeling -
On the other hand, the loss did not affect the American team, the guarantor of its qualification greatly, unless it lost by a crushing result, by six goals.
Although Costa Rica scored two goals in the second half within 8 minutes in San Jose, first through defender Juan Pablo Vargas (51) and then striker Anthony Contreras (59), this did not prevent the US team from booking the direct qualification card.
"I'm very proud of this group," said USA star Christian Pulisic. "The feeling is contradictory right now because I hate losing so much. But I'm proud and I can't wait to go to the World Cup."
"It is not easy to come and play in these countries, we know that. We fought most of the game, and at the end of the day we are in the top three and we will go to the World Cup, so we should be proud," the Chelsea winger continued.
The qualification of the US team comes after its failure to participate in the World Cup Russia 2018, when its dreams were destroyed by a sudden loss against Trinidad and Tobago.
The last big win for coach Greg Berhalter's men over Panama 5-1 in Orlando came at an appropriate time, as he made a good difference in goals with Costa Rica in the struggle for third place.
The United States is participating in the finals for the 11th time in its history, while its best result remains reaching the semi-finals during the first edition in 1930, when the tournament was held with the participation of only 13 teams, while it reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 edition.
Fourth Costa Rica maintained its hopes of catching up with the qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup, scheduled for November 21-December 18, as it competes in an international play-off against New Zealand in June.
Canada had qualified for the finals for the second time in its history, after the first in 1986, when it went out in the group stage with three losses.
In a marginal match, Jamaica, sixth in the unified group, defeated its host Honduras (2-1), bottom of the table, which ended the third round without any victory.
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