Final Round W.C. Qualifying Scenarios for USA

The U.S. Men’s National Team heads into their Tuesday night clash with Guatemala tied in points (10) in the CONCAF Group A standings as well as goal differential (+3). With Jamaica following up in 3rd place only three points behind with 7 but with an even up goal differential, Guatemala and the United States will most likely move through to the ‘hexagonal’ stage unless Jamaica wins over Antigua and Barbuda tonight in Kingston and do so with three or more goals. Not an impossible scenario by any means but one that would be difficult for a team that has only scored 5 goals in 4 matches and who drew 0-0 with Antigua and Barbuda in their last matchup in St. John’s.

From U.S. Soccer, here are the possible scenarios for the U.S. ahead of Tuesday night’s critical match in Kansas City.

U.S. Win
U.S. wins Group A with 13 points and qualifies for Final Round
Guatemala finishes with 10 points and must await result of Jamaica-Antigua

U.S.  Tie
U.S. finishes tied with Guatemala atop Group A with 11 points and both countries qualify for Final Round

U.S. Loss AND Jamaica Tie or Loss
Guatemala wins Group A with 13 points and qualifies for Final Round
U.S. finishes in second place in Group A with 10 points and qualifies for Final Round
Jamaica finishes in third place (with 7 or 8 points) and does not qualify for Final Round

U.S. Loss AND Jamaica Win
Guatemala wins Group A with 13 points and qualifies for Final Round
U.S. and Jamaica finish tied on points with 10 each and qualified team is determined with tiebreakers

TIEBREAKERS: Here are the tiebreakers if two teams are equal in points:

a) Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) Goal difference in all group matches;
c) Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings shall be determined as follows:

d) Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) The goals scored away from home count double between the teams concerned (if the tie is only between two teams).