For the first time since 2014, the U.S. Men’s National Team punched their World Cup ticket, sealing the deal in the 14th and final World Cup qualifying game at Costa Rica.
To qualify on Wednesday, March 30, all the U.S. needed to do was not lose by six or more goals. The U.S. ultimately lost 2-0, but it was enough to secure their spot.
The U.S. finished third place in the qualifying region for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean — the region’s final spot for a guaranteed World Cup berth.
Still, despite the improbability of a six-goal-plus loss, which the U.S. has not suffered in a competitive match in 65 years, the Americans know all too well about unforeseen collapses in final qualifying games.
In the final qualifying game for the 2018 World Cup, the American team suffered an embarrassing loss. The U.S. only needed a draw against the world’s 99th ranked team at the time, Trinidad & Tobago, to earn a spot in the World Cup. However, the Americans fell 2-1 on the road and were left out of the international tournament. It was the first World Cup the U.S. had missed since 1986.
At the time, Christian Pulisic was 19 years old and scored the only goal for the U.S. After the loss to Trinidad, Pulisic memorably dropped to his knees in tears.
“That was one of the toughest days of my life, and I’ll never forget it,” said Pulisic. “Now, to be in this position qualified for a World Cup, we’re all extremely proud.”
Pulisic was again upset after losing the final qualifying game on Wednesday night, angrily walking off the field with a towel draped around his head. His comments after the match were not initially joyful about managing to clinch a World Cup berth but rather upset over the loss to the Costa Ricans.
“We’re competitors, man. We hate to lose. In the moment, I was frustrated,” Pulisic said. “It took me a little bit for it to sink in that the qualification hit. This is whatever I’ve always wanted to be, and right now, emotions are a bit crazy.”
After a while, the accomplishment set in for Pulisic.
“Looking at the big picture, we’re obviously so proud to represent our country at a World Cup, so we’re thrilled for that. In a couple of days, I don’t think we’ll be thinking about this game,” he said. “I think we can do a lot of damage, man. I think we’re a confident bunch of guys, and, yeah, I think the country will get behind us.”
The whole team hesitated to celebrate at first as they dwelled on the loss to Costa Rica. Eventually, joy and celebration spread throughout the players as they sprayed champagne and beer across the locker room.
“The team’s ecstatic, really excited to be qualified for the World Cup,” Coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Qualifying is a grind, and we did it.”
DeAndre Yedlin was also on the field for the loss to Trinidad & Tobago in 2017. He addressed the team after the game against Costa Rica.
“I just thanked each and every one of them for giving me a second opportunity to redeem myself, and the country a second opportunity to redeem itself,” said the 28-year-old defender, the only player on the team who played in the 2014 World Cup.
Yedlin and Pulisic, along with other holdovers from the 2018 team, Kellyn Acosta and Paul Arriola, can now all breathe a sigh of relief, as they avoided another collapse in the final qualifying game.
Costa Rica seemed to know they had only a slight chance to put six goals on the Americans. Six starters from their win on Sunday at El Salvador did not play in the game.
However, the Costa Rican fans did not care, as about 35,000 sold out the National Stadium in San Jose. The fans were raucous the entire game and cheered as though they had won the World Cup with each goal.
Costa Rica’s Juan Pablo Vargas scored in the 51st minute when he headed Brandon Aguilera’s corner kick past U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen. In the 59th minute, Anthony Contreras doubled the lead when he knocked in Jewison Bennette’s cross after Steffen blocked an initial shot from Contreras that rebounded right to Bennette.
The U.S. has historically struggled mightily in Costa Rica. In 12 qualifying games played at Costa Rica all-time, the U.S. has ten losses and two draws.
Costa Rica finished in fourth place in the qualifying region with 25 points, the same as the U.S. but behind on goal differential (a plus-five compared to the U.S.’s plus-11). As the fourth-place finisher, Costa Rica will play Oceania qualifying region winner New Zealand in a playoff game in June for a spot in the World Cup.
Canada, who clinched its first World Cup berth since 1986 with a win over Jamaica on Sunday, finished first in the group with 28 points after a 1-0 loss at Panama on Wednesday. Mexico finished second with 28 points but behind on goal differential. On Wednesday, Mexico clinched its eighth straight World Cup berth with a 2-0 home win over El Salvador.
On Friday, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will determine who their three opponents are in the World Cup group stage.
The World Cup in Qatar will begin on November 21. Qatar’s summer heat prompted the move of the World Cup back five months this year.