Mexico and the United States have clinched their spots at the 2022 World Cup, rounding out the final qualifiers prior to Friday’s official draw for the Qatar tournament.
El Tri got past El Salvador 2-0 on Wednesday with first-half goals from Uriel Antuna and Raul Jimenez clinching second spot behind Canada in the CONCACAF qualifying standings.
USA needed to avoid a six-goal defeat against fourth-placed Costa Rica to qualify and achieved that, although they lost 2-0.
The Ticos, who made the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals, scored second-half goals from Juan Pablo Vargas and Anthony Contreras to secure the playoff spot against Oceania winners New Zealand, who beat Solomon Islands 5-0 on Wednesday.
Mexico’s victory ended a tough qualifying campaign for head coach Gerardo Martino who has been under pressure to keep his job. Mexico have qualified for eight straight World Cups.
Meanwhile, USA avenged their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup much to Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic’s delight.
“I’m extremely proud of this group. It’s a bit of a weird feeling right now because I hate to lose so much but I’m really proud and I can’t wait to go to the World Cup,” Pulisic said.
“It’s definitely been a roller coaster. It’s never easy to come down and play in these countries, we know that.
“We battled through most of it. At the end of the day, we’re at the to three and we’re going to the World Cup so we should be proud.”
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