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A Full Structural Collapse: USMNT miss out on the 2018 World Cup

By Jordan Jacobsen

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to the referee's call during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to the referee's call during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /
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Despite having nearly 93% odds of qualifying for the World Cup heading into the final match day, the USMNT will be staying home next summer.

Following a 4-0 thrashing of Panama, the USMNT headed to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in total control of their World Cup destiny following a rough qualifying run. It would take three significant upsets on the last day for the US to miss out on the 2018 trip to Russia, but all three of those results would mark the end of the USMNT’s World Cup dreams.

Three Match Mayhem

The USMNT looked to be safe with their spot in third place heading into the last day. Group leading Mexico headed to San Pedro Sula to take on fifth-place Honduras while second-place Costa Rica headed to Panama City to face fourth-place Panama. Both Honduras and Panama would need to win to keep their dreams alive, while even a USMNT tie would advance the US to Russia on tie-breakers follow an upset win in the other matches. The USMNT would have to lose to last-place Trinidad and Tobago with both Honduras and Panama earning results.

Sadly, that is exactly what happened. Late game heroics proved to be the difference as Panama earned the win on a late goal by Seattle Sounders defender Roman Torres. In Honduras, Houston Dynamo winger, Romell Quioto, got the best of the Mexico defense after his Dynamo teammate Alberth Elis opened the scoring for Los Catrachos and a Guillermo Ochoa own goal tied the match.

For the USMNT, an own goal of their own by Omar Gonzalez and a long distance strike by Alvin Jones caught Tim Howard flat-footed. Christian Pulisic pulled one back to start the second half, but the Stars and Stripes were unable to find another goal, one that would secure their place in Russia.

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /

Looking Ahead

The USMNT will now go without a competitive match until the 2019 Gold Cup, over 600 days away. After such a preventable debacle like missing the World Cup because of underperformance, significant changes will be needed all the way around. The USMNT stagnated multiple times in qualifying, under both Jurgen Klinsmann and Bruce Arena, while many players underperformed in must-win positions.

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