With six games left for all eight teams alive in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, it looks likely to be a four-horse battle for three automatic places in Qatar 2022.
The United States men’s national team is joined by Mexico, Canada, and Panama in a muddled top half of the Octagonal, while Costa Rica, Jamaica, and El Salvador have to hit hot streaks, while Honduras requires a miracle run with wins accompanied by unexpected struggles from the nations above them.
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Looking at the remaining fixtures, Mexico has the cleanest path to the World Cup with just two top-four rivals left and both at home.
Canada socked Mexico in the face in a frozen 2-1 win in Edmonton to go atop the table, a point ahead of the U.S., leaving El Tri and Panama two points back of first.
Remaining CONCACAF World Cup qualifying opponents
points in parenthesis
Canada (16) : at HON, vs USA, at SLV | at CRC, vs JAM, at PAN
USMNT (15): vs SLV, at CAN, vs HON | at MEX, vs PAN, at CRC
Mexico (14): at JAM, vs CRC, vs PAN | vs USA, at HON, vs SLV
Panama (14): at CRC, vs JAM, at MEX | vs HON, at USA, vs CAN
Costa Rica (9): vs PAN, at MEX, at JAM | vs CAN, at SLV, vs USA
Jamaica (7): vs MEX, at PAN, vs CRC | vs SLV, at CAN, vs HON
El Salvador (6): at USA, at HON, vs CAN | at JAM, vs CRC, at MEX
Honduras (3): vs CAN, vs SLV, at USA | at PAN, vs MEX, at JAM