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).
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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
