Arena Arrival Revives Campaign

With three assured berths for CONCACAF teams, plus a fourth available through a play-off, the USA ought to be home and dry before qualification even starts.

- Paul Gardner

And when Gianni Infantino’s inflated 48-team monster World Cup gets going, the region will have five berths, giving the US, along with Mexico, a lifetime pass to the finals.

However, there has been a slight hiccup in proceedings this time around. After losing their opening two games – a 2-1 defeat at home to Mexico and a 4-0 thrashing in Costa Rica – the US currently sit third in the six-team group.

Those losses in November cost Jurgen Klinsmann his job, with Bruce Arena – who led the national team for eight years, between 1998 and 2006 – taking charge once more. Under Arena the USA quickly re-asserted itself, beating Honduras 6-0 and Trinidad & Tobago 2-0, and drawing 1-1 in Panama and Mexico. And of their remaining four games, three are against teams below them in the standings.