Six CONCACAF-region teams remain on the road to Russia and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, battling through “the Hex” for three direct spots and one playoff qualification spot in next year’s tournament. Following the latest round of matches, Mexico remain on top of the standings, while the U.S. are back on track after picking up four much-needed points in their two March matches.
Hexagonal Standings
Position |
Team |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
PTS |
1. |
Mexico |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
10 |
2. |
Costa Rica |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
3. |
Panama |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
4. |
USMNT |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5. |
Honduras |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-5 |
4 |
6. |
Trinidad and Tobago |
1 |
0 |
3 |
-4 |
3 |
Mexico’s 10 points have El Tri comfortably in first place following their two March victories—a 2-0 win over Costa Rica and a 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. Gritty Mexico have all but secured their place in Russia, as El Tri have conceded only a single goal (courtesy of Bobby Wood during the U.S.-Mexico match in November), and have yet to drop a Hex match. Mexico will attempt to keep their streak going when they face Honduras and the USMNT in June.
Costa Rica and Panama sit in second and third place respectively, with each team securing an additional point in March. Costa Rica kicked off Hex play in ideal fashion, shutting out Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. in November before falling to Mexico and fighting to a 1-1 draw with Honduras over the last week. The latest matches also saw Panama fall to a struggling Trinidad and Tobago and draw with the U.S., but the Panamanians have the chance to jump Costa Rica in the standings when the two teams meet in their next match on June 8.
The fourth-place U.S. Men’s National Team entered March desperate for points after suffering two losses in their first two Hex matches in November. Determined to get back on track under new head coach Bruce Arena, the U.S. secured three huge points in a 6-0 rout over Honduras on March 24, and earned another hard-fought point in a physical 1-1 draw versus Panama in Panama City. The U.S.’ four points lifted the Yanks to fourth in the Hex standings, with the opportunity to break into the group’s top three when they return to action against Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico in June.
At the bottom of the group are Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, who will be pressing to pick up vital qualification points when play resumes this summer. Honduras’ defensive breakdown against the U.S. left them with a -5 goal differential—the worst in the group. Trinidad and Tobago avoided a third-consecutive loss by beating Panama on March 24, but will need to pick up additional points when they face the U.S. and Costa Rica in June in order to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Following the final Hex matches in October, the group’s top three teams will automatically earn World Cup berths. The Hex’s fourth-place team will then face the AFC’s fifth-place team twice in November, with the winner advancing to Russia.
