AP
Football NOS•
Ajax player Edson Alvarez and PSV midfielder Eric Gutierrez qualified with Mexico for the World Cup in Qatar. Like the United States, Mexico secured the ticket to Qatar on the last day of qualifying.
Alvarez and Gutierrez stood together in the Mexican midfield against El Salvador. A former Eredivisie hit 1-0: Aurel Antona, who played for FC Groningen five years ago as a mercenary from Manchester City. It eventually became 2-0 at Azteca Stadium.
USA’s best goal difference
The USA lost 2-0 to Costa Rica in San Jose, but on a better goal difference basis, kept the opponent at the bottom of the group.
The United States qualifies for the World Cup despite losing
Many players rested. Luca de la Torre, midfielder Heracles Almelo, entered the second half. The United States finished third in the qualifying group behind Canada and Mexico. Fourth seed Costa Rica will play a play-off with New Zealand in June for their final World Cup ticket.
Canada was already sure of the World Cup. After last weekend’s party, Panama lost 1-0, but despite the loss, Canada ended up top of the group.
Three more tickets
The World Cup draw will take place in Qatar next Friday. The field of participants is not yet complete: 29 of 32 participants are known. From Europe there will be another country (Wales, Scotland or Ukraine) and in June there will be two intercontinental playoffs.
The Netherlands return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014. However, national coach Louis van Gaal has to let the draw go. His PCR test was still positive. Assistant coach Danny Blind replaces him.
