The top three teams in the qualifiers – Canada, the United States and Mexico – won Round 11 of the North and Central American qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday.
Leaders Canada were victorious at home in El Salvador, while the United States and Mexico, who had the same point, collected the three points at home against hosts Honduras and Panama, respectively.
Canada have remained undefeated in all 11 matches at this point so far, so they are an arm’s length away from participating in a World Cup again after 1986 – when they were in the same group as the Hungarians.
There are only eight teams in the Final, the third stage of the CONCACAF region’s qualifying series, of which the top three teams will qualify for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, and the fourth will play alternate intercontinental qualifiers. There are still three rounds left in the fight, which will take place at the end of March.
Round 11 results:
USA – Honduras 3-0 (2-0)
Mexico – Panama 1-0 (0-0)
Jamaica-Costa Rica 0-1 (0-0)
El Salvador – Canada 0-2 (0-0)
Ranking: 1. Canada 25 points, 2. USA 21 (16-7), 3. Mexico 21 (14-8), 4. Panama 17, 5. Costa Rica 16, 6. El Salvador 9, 7. Jamaica 7, 8 3. Honduras