Action from the World Cup qualifier between host Mexico and Honduras (white/blue jersey) on September 6, 2016, in Mexico City. (Photo: Straffon Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 5
Match: Mexico v Honduras
Venue: Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Drew Fischer (Canada)
AR1: Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)
AR2: Richard Gamache (Canada)
4th: Kimbell Ward (St. Kitts & Nevis)
SUSPENSIONS
Mexico: none
Honduras: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
Mexico leads: 10W-5D-5L (32GF, 18GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
September 6, 2016: Mexico 0, Honduras 0
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
Mexico: WWDWD
Honduras: DLWLD
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
Mexico (Overall record: 8W-2D-0L … 18GF, 2GA)
13.11.15 Mexico v El Salvador 3-0
17.11.15 Honduras v Mexico 0-2
25.03.16 Canada v Mexico 0-3
29.03.16 Mexico v Canada 2-0
02.09.16 El Salvador v Mexico 1-3
06.09.16 Mexico v Honduras 0-0
11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2
15.11.16 Panama v Mexico 0-0
24.03.17 Mexico v Costa Rica 2-0
28.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico 0-1
Honduras (Overall record: 3W-3D-4L … 10GF, 15GA)
13.11.15 Canada v Honduras 1-0
17.11.15 Honduras v Mexico 2-0
25.03.16 El Salvador v Honduras 2-2
29.03.16 Honduras v El Salvador 2-0
02.09.16 Honduras v Canada 2-1
06.09.16 Mexico v Honduras 0-0
11.11.16 Honduras v Panama 0-1
15.11.16 Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago 3-1
24.03.17 USA v Honduras 6-0
28.03.17 Honduras v Costa Rica 1-1
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
Mexico: Jesus Corona (3); Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez (2); Nestor Araujo, Jurgen Damm, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez, Miguel Layun, Hirving Lozano, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Diego Reyes, Angel Sepulveda, Carlos Vela (1)
Honduras: Romell Quioto (3); Antony Lozano (2); Alberth Elis, Oscar Garcia, Eddie Hernandez, Emilio Izaguirre, Mario Martinez (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY
Mexico: Undefeated through four Hexagonal matches, first-place Mexico (3W-1D-0L, 10 points) has a three-point lead over second-place Costa Rica and Panama -- the next nearest competitor -- trails by five points. It would take a severe turn of events for the Tricolor not to qualify for Russia 2018, but even if its offense is not firing on all cylinders, a defense that has conceded only one final-round goal can always be relied upon. Amazingly, Mexico has atop the Hexagonal table only once – the inaugural edition in 1998. Accomplishing that feat again would send a strong message to the rest of the region.
Honduras: With only one win through four Hexagonal games, fifth-place Honduras (1W-1D-2L, 4 points) may need to rely on history in order to get its Russia 2018 campaign back on track. In their last two WCQ at the Estadio Azteca, the Hondurans have posted a win (2013: 2-1) and a draw (2016: 0-0). After splitting its opening two games in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, Honduras fell 6-0 to the host USA and then – after taking a 1-0 lead via an Antony Lozano (34’) goal – settled for a 1-1 draw with visiting Costa Rica.
FAST FACTS
Mexico
- Played in every World Cup from USA 1994 through Brazil 2014 … reached Round of 16 in each edition.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal goals scored (91).
- Scored one goal or fewer in three of last five WCQs, zero in two of those outings.
- Fourteen different players have scored Mexico’s 18 goals during 2018 WCQ.
- Shares record with Costa Rica for most goals scored in a single Hexagonal (both scored 23 in 1998).
Honduras
- Qualified for three FIFA World Cups, including the last two (1982, 2010, 2014).
- Never won more than five games in three previous Hexagonal appearances.
- Conceded one goal or fewer in six of last seven WCQs.
- Scored one goal or fewer in four of last five WCQ matches, zero in three of those outings.
- Earned 2017 Copa Centroamericana title by finishing atop six-team table with 4W-1D-0L record.
- Competing in fourth Hexagonal.
