U.S. Men’s National Team at Trinidad and Tobago
2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying| CONCACAF Hexagonal
Tuesday, Oct. 10| 7 p.m. CT | beIN SPORTS, Universo
Ato Boldon Stadium | Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
The U.S. Men's National Team can punch its ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a win over Trinidad and Tobago in Tuesday's Hexagonal finale at Ato Boldon Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT on beIN SPORTS and Universo as the Americans look to secure their eighth straight World Cup appearance.
Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi are in contention to feature Tuesday in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, making Sporting Kansas City the most represented club on head coach Bruce Arena's 25-man roster. Besler started and played 90 minutes in Friday's crucial 4-0 hammering of Panama, while Feilhaber and Zusi were unused substitutes.
The U.S. MNT sits two points ahead of fourth-place Panama and fifth-place Honduras, with the top three finishers in the Hex earning automatic berths to next summer's World Cup in Russia. The fourth-place finisher, meanwhile, will face Australia or Syria in a two-legged World Cup playoff in November.
Multiple scenarios on Tuesday would see the Americans clinch a top-three finish and a World Cup berth, as detailed below.
- USA wins at Trinidad & Tobago, or
- USA ties at Trinidad & Tobago, AND Honduras and Panama do not make up goal difference in wins vs. Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively
- USA loses at Trinidad & Tobago, AND Honduras and Panama both draw/lose vs. Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively
Given the U.S. MNT's advantage in goal difference on both Honduras and Panama, a draw against Trinidad and Tobago would almost certainly do the job for Arena's men.
Hexagonal Matchday 10 Schedule: Tuesday, Oct. 10
- Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA 7 p.m. CT (beIN Sports, UNIVERSO)
- Panama vs. Costa Rica 7 p.m. CT (beIN Sports Connect, Telemundo En Vivo)
- Honduras vs. Mexico 7 p.m. CT (Telemundo, beIN Sports Connect)
History paints a positive picture for the United States, who are 18-2-4 all-time against the Soca Warriors. That includes a 13-1-3 mark in World Cup qualifiers. The sides last met on June 8 in Colorado when a brace from 19-year-old Christian Pulisic propelled the Americans to a 2-0 victory. Pulisic recorded a goal and assist in Friday's defeat of Panama, which also produced a double from Jozy Altidore and a late Bobby Wood strike.
U.S. MNT Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 15/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 38/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 35/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 13/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 24/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 17/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 6/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 5/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; (9/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 20/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 5/0),Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 0/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 6/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 10/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 39/7), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City; 6/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 10/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 12/6)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 40/18), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 42/18), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 13/5)
Trinidad and Tobago Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Greg Ranjitsingh (Louisville City FC/USA), Glenroy Samuel (Morvant Caledonia United)
DEFENDERS (8): Daneil Cyrus (Juticalpa/HON), Kevan George (Jacksonville Armada/USA), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Triston Hodge (DirecTV W Connection), Kareem Moses (North Carolina FC/USA), Josiah Trimmingham (Club Sando), Kevon Villaroel (North East Stars), Mekeil Williams (Colorado Rapids/USA)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Neil Benjamin Jr. (W Connection), Levi Garcia (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Khaleem Hyland (Al-Faisaly Harmah/KSA), Joevin Jones (Seattle Sounders/USA), Jared London (Club Sando), Nathan Lewis (San Juan Jabloteh), Leston Paul (Pasaquina FC/SLV), Kathon St. Hillaire (St. Ann's Rangers);
FORWARDS (3): Trevin Caesar (Sacramento Republic/USA), Akeem Roach (Vida/HON), Shahdon Winchester (Murcielagos/MEX)
