Football
Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC 2y

How USMNT can qualify for World Cup finals this week

The race to the 2022 World Cup finals is drawing to a close, and the United States has two more World Cup qualifiers this week.

Here's what the USMNT needs to do during this set of international fixtures to book a place in Qatar in November. 

How many CONCACAF nations qualify for the World Cup?

The top three nations in CONCACAF qualify directly to the World Cup in Qatar, which begins on Nov. 21 and runs through to the final on Dec. 18.

The fourth-placed nation in the region will face a one-legged playoff against the winner of the Oceania region, most likely New Zealand, in June for the right to qualify.

How many games are left? 

Each nation has five matches left to play, two over the next week plus the remaining three, which will be held in March.

- World Cup 2022 qualifying: How it works around the world

What results does the United States require in this week of games? 

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter's side beat El Salvador 1-0 on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio, with a trip to take on Canada in Hamilton, Ontario, sandwiched on Sunday. The third match is against Honduras in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday, 

The only way the U.S. can qualify for the World Cup in this round of games is by winning the next two matches and for Panama to lose its next two games -- and get a little bit more help.

Panama, who lost to Costa Rica 1-0 on Thursday, next hosts Jamaica before travelling to face Mexico.

For the U.S. to qualify for the World Cup this week, this is what is required:
- United States to win both its games
- Panama to lose both its games
- Costa Rica must draw/lose its two matches, which are at Mexico and at Jamaica

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