MIAMI, Florida – FIFA World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 in the Concacaf region returns on Thursday with another quadruple-header as teams look to build on strong September showings, or turn the tide if the first three games of the final round didn’t go as hoped.
All eight teams are in action and looking to get results that will help them move into the top three, which will automatically qualify them for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, or be the fourth-place team, which moves into a playoff.
USA vs Jamaica 7:30 ET
The United States plays a World Cup qualification match in Texas for the first time, hosting Jamaica at Austin’s Q2 Stadium. While young stars Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are out with injuries, the U.S. once again can call key pieces like Ricardo Pepi, who scored in a 4-1 win against Honduras that closed out the September window, and midfielder stalwart Tyler Adams.
Jamaica also is missing some of their attacking firepower, with Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey injured and unable to make the trip, but Michail Antonio and Shamar Nicholson, the latter coming off goals against both Mexico and Costa Rica in September’s matches, will make sure the Reggae Boyz still pack a punch.
In a dozen meetings, the U.S. has lost just once to Jamaica in qualification, with Rodolph Austin and the late Luton Shelton on the mark in a 2-1 win in September of 2012, a speed bump for the North Americans on the road to Brazil 2014. Half of the contests between the teams in qualification have ended in a draw. Jamaica Head Coach Theodore Whitmore will hope for another positive result against what should be a passionate crowd cheering on the U.S. in Central Texas.
Match Officials
R: Reon Radix (GRN)
AR1: Keytzel Corrales (NCA)
AR2: Iroots Apleton (ATG)
4th Official: Tristley Bassue ( SKN)
Honduras vs Costa Rica 8:05 ET
Honduras and Costa Rica head into Thursday’s match at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula with each looking for their first victory of the final round. Honduras found draws on the road in trips to Canada and El Salvador, but fell to the U.S. at home, while Costa Rica also played out a pair of draws, but fell at home to Mexico.
The all-time series between these teams is close, with 18 wins to Honduras’ favor, 21 to Costa Rica and 22 draws, and there looks to be little separating the teams in their 63rd meeting.
While star winger Alberth Elis returns for Los Catrachos, attack partner Romell Quioto is set to miss out because of injury. Costa Rica manager Luis Fernando Suarez will hope his defense can control the Honduras attack, while Joel Campbell returns to lead the Ticos’ forward line after being fully fit to start just one of the three September matches.
Match Officials:
R: Mario Escobar (GUA)
AR1: Caleb Wales (TRI)
AR2: Henri Pupiro (NCA)
4th Official: Randy Encarnacion (DOM)
Mexico vs Canada 9:40 ET
Mexico hopes to continue its strong start to qualification when it hosts Canada. The two sides most recently met in the semifinals of the 2021 Gold Cup, a closely fought game in which Mexico won 2-1 with Orbelin Pineda and Hector Herrera scoring for El Tricolor and Tajon Buchanan finding the back of the net for Canada. Those players all will be involved Thursday, as will players who missed that match, including now-fit Mexico forward Raul Jimenez and Canada winger Alphonso Davies.
Canada has topped Mexico just once in qualification, with Les Parsons finding the back of the net in an October 1976 clash on the road to Argentina 1978.
Match Officials:
R: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
AR1: Geovanny Garcia (SLV)
AR2: Zachari Zeegelaar (SUR)
4th Official: Jaime Herrera (SLV)
El Salvador vs Panama 10:05 ET
The matchday closes with El Salvador hosting Panama at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador. It’s the first time since the 2010 World Cup cycle that these teams are meeting in qualifying. The Central American squads have a tight all-time series, with Panama holding a slight edge with 18 wins, 12 draws and 16 losses.
With center backs Eriq Zavaleta and Ronald Rodriguez, each of whom started El Salvador’s 3-0 loss to Canada in September, out with injuries for this month’s matches, El Salvador Head Coach Hugo Perez will hope to see a strong showing from goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez and the defenders who step up in place of their injured teammates.
Panama can commiserate with center back Andres Andrade out for October’s games as well, though captain Harold Cummings is set to make his final round debut after missing the September window, which saw Panama secure five points.
Match Officials:
R: Oshaen Nation (JAM)
AR1: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)
AR2:Jassett Kerr (JAM)
4th Official: Kimbell Ward (SKN)
