USMNT qualifies for 2022 World Cup

The USMNT set the stage on Sunday, knocking off Panama, 5-1, all but assuring themselves an automatic qualification into the World Cup. Led by a hat-trick from Christian Pulisic against Panama, the U.S. had to avoid disaster on Wednesday. 

Against Costa Rica, the final score was the only thing between the USMNT and a World Cup berth. They only needed to avoid a loss by six goals or more to advance. 

The United States needed to finish among the top three in the CONCACAF table to advance to the World Cup. The USMNT placed second in the table with a 6-4-2 mark, just three points behind table winner Canada (7-4-1). Mexico (6-4-2) also advanced from the table with the US and Canada. 

The World Cup berth is the first for the USMNT since 2014. The United States reached the round of 16 that year, eliminated in a heartbreaker to Belgium, 2-1. 

In 2018, the USMNT failed to make the World Cup for the first time since 1986, breaking a qualifying streak of seven straight World Cups for the U.S. Overall, the USMNT has reached the World Cup 10 times since 1930, reaching the round of 16 or higher six times. 

The United States joins 28 other countries that have already qualified for the World Cup. The 2022 World Cup, hosted by Qatar, will begin on November 21 and run through December 18.