The U.S. men’s national soccer team national team U.S. was eliminated from qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since the 1986 cycle.
The elimination was a byproduct of the 2-1 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday night in the final match of the hexagonal group stage. After going down 2-0, the U.S. got a goal from Christian Pulisic but couldn’t get the one more it needed.
The loss, plus a winning goal from Panama in the last seconds against Costa Rica gave the Panamanians the third and final direct spot in the group. Honduras defeated Mexico to earn the fourth spot. México and Costa Rica in the CONCACAF region.
The USA has reached every World Cup since 1990, but will now be absent when the tournament kicks off in Russia next summer.
