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The 'Hex' draws near

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Andres Guardado (left) Javier Hernandez celebrate after Mexico scored against host Honduras in a CONCACAF Hexagonal match on March 22, 2013, in San Pedro Sula. (Photo: Straffon Images)

MIAMI – Starting Friday, for the sixth consecutive cycle, the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for a FIFA World Cup will consist of six teams battling for three direct berths, with a fourth progressing to an intercontinental playoff against an Asian side.

The ‘Hexagonal’ – as it has become affectionately known -- is one of the most highly-anticipated events on the CONCACAF calendar.

CONCACAF.com will provide sweeping coverage of all the games, but before the action kicks off, let’s take a glance at some ‘Hex’ facts:

  • Since 1998, the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup has consisted of six teams, with each playing the others twice on a home-and-home basis;

  • Top three teams earn World Cup berths ... fourth-place team takes part in an Intercontinental Playoff;

  • Since its inception ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 10 different teams have competed in the Hexagonal;

  • Costa Rica, Mexico and the USA are the only three teams to advance to the previous five Hexagonals;

  • USA has finished in first place on three occasions (2006, 2010, 2014); Mexico (1998) and Costa Rica (2002) have topped the table once each;

  • Trinidad & Tobago (2006) and Mexico (2014) have finished fourth once each and eventually earned World Cup berths after winning an Intercontinental Playoff;

  • USA has the most Hexagonal wins – 29 … Trinidad & Tobago has the most Hexagonal losses – 18;

  • Mexico has scored the most Hexagonal goals – 86 … Trinidad & Tobago has conceded the most Hexagonal goals – 55;

  • Previous Hexagonal appearances: Costa Rica, Mexico, USA (5) ... Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago (3) ... El Salvador, Panama (2) ... Canada, Guatemala (1).

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round

Schedule

November 11, 2016 Honduras v Panama Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica USA v Mexico

November 15, 2016 Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago Panama v Mexico Costa Rica v USA

March 24, 2017 USA v Honduras Trinidad & Tobago v Panama Mexico v Costa Rica

March 28, 2017 Panama v USA Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico Honduras v Costa Rica

June 7, 2017 Mexico v Honduras USA v Trinidad & Tobago Costa Rica v Panama

June 11, 2017 Mexico v USA Panama v Honduras Costa Rica v Trinidad & Tobago

September 1, 2017 USA v Costa Rica Mexico v Panama Trinidad & Tobago v Honduras

September 5, 2017 Honduras v USA Costa Rica v Mexico Panama v Trinidad & Tobago

October 6, 2017 Costa Rica v Honduras USA v Panama Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago

October 10, 2017 Honduras v Mexico Panama v Costa Rica Trinidad & Tobago v USA

Men's World Cup Qualifying
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