To put it simply, to win more games. The US Men’s team endured a shaky start to their World Cup qualifying campaign that has left them trailing Mexico in a tight group where points can be hard to come by.
With only six of the total fourteen games already played in the final round of qualifying, the US are in it for the long haul. Including this month’s double game round, qualifiers will also take place going into the beginning of next year.
Those teams finishing in the top three positions of the final round group stage will qualify automatically for World Cup 2022 in Qatar. The side that finishes in fourth place will go into a continental playoff that has proved hazardous to CONCACAF sides in the past.
Next up are games at home to Mexico on Saturday 13 November in Cincinnati, followed by a trip south to Kingston to meet a Jamaican side the US have already dispatched with relative ease already this round.
A number of the larger betting sites in the USA are currently backing the Mexicans to take all three points, despite the US seeing off The Triocolor in the dying embers of the Gold Cup Final as recently as August.
In fact the USMNT have gotten the better of their southern neighbours on both occasions they have met in finals as of late, with another victory in added time back in June in the Nations League Final. That being said the match up against Mexico is undoubtedly the toughest test the US team have had to face so far in this qualifying campaign.
Consecutive opening draws against El Salvador and Canada have meant this round of qualifying did not get off to the brightest of starts. The Stars and Stripes looked to be setting a more solid foundation to their World Cup qualifying campaign after consecutive victories away to Honduras and another three points bagged at home to Jamaica across September and October fixtures.
Following a shock 1-0 away defeat to Panama during the last international break the US quickly responded with a vital win at home to Costa Rica. Two wins during this round of fixtures would be a necessity to ease nervous fans heading into the New Year.
Looking at the fixture list, getting at least four points out of six during this November spate of games will be important should the US seek to capitalise and ease potential future pressure.
The final three matches in March come up against rivals Mexico, as well as Panama and Costa Rica, the two latter sides who the US have already fallen foul of. This could easily be the toughest run-in the US has to face and could prove fatal if points aren’t already chalked on the board.
Star midfielders Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic have both had their share of difficulties over recent months, but the USA will need star players in attack to turn out for the national team. Pulisic’s return to the fold for the games against Mexico and Jamaica could be an added boost should he prove to be available following injury.
Other top players who are out for the US in November are Barcelona defender Sergino Dest and attacking midfielder Giovanni Reyna. Head coach Gregg Berhalter has called up a total of twenty players who took part in the last round of fixtures during this qualifying campaign. It represents a chance to sculpt a formation and a game plan that will hopefully bring much needed consistency as the US moves forward.
