Action from the World Cup qualifier between Mexico (white jersey) and host Canada on March 25, 2016, in Vancouver. (Photo: Mexsport)
MIAMI – Entering the fourth matchday in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, only Mexico has an unblemished record thanks to a 3-0 win at Canada on Friday.
Can the seven-time Gold Cup champion maintain that perfect pace Tuesday, when it hosts the Canadians at the Estadio Azteca? A win will seal the Mexicans a place in the final round with two games to spare.
CONCACAF.com takes a look at each of the six encounters:
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – CONCACAF
FOURTH ROUND, MATCHDAY 4 (MARCH 29, 2016)
GROUP A
MEXICO v CANADA
Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico (1st place: 3W-0D-0L … 8GF, 0GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-3; D-0; L-0; GF-5; GA-0
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-1; D-0; L-0; GF-3; GA-0
- Goals: Jesus Corona (2), Jurgen Damm, Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera, Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela (1)
- Currently riding a 16-game unbeaten streak in all matches (10W-6D-0L)
- Only team CONCACAF WCQ with a perfect record
- Participated in last 6 World Cups
- Champion, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (record-extending 7th title)
- 2015 CONCACAF Cup winner (qualified for 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup)
- Andres Guardado was named Golden Ball recipient at 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- World Cup Appearances: 15 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Canada (2nd place: 1W-1D-1L … 1GF, 3GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-4; D-2; L-1; GF-11; GA-4
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-1; D-2; L-0; GF-3; GA-1
- Goals: Tosaint Ricketts (4); Cyle Larin (3); Tesho Akindele, Atiba Hutchinson, Will Johnnson, Russell Teibert (1)
- Prior to 0-3 home loss v Mexico on Friday, had conceded only 1 goal in 6 2018 WCQs
- Scored 1 goal or fewer in last 4 2018 WCQs … shutout in last 2 outings
- World Cup Appearances: 1 (1982)
HONDURAS v EL SALVADOR
Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano – San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Honduras (4th place: 0W-1D-2L … 2GF, 5GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-0; D-1; L-2; GF-2; GA-5
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-0; D-0; L-1; GF-0; GA-2
- 3W-6D-7L in last 16 games
- Conceded at least 1 goal in each of 3 208 WCQs
- Participated in last 2 World Cups
- World Cup Appearances: 3 (1982, 2010, 2014)
El Salvador (3rd place: 0W-2D-1L … 2GF, 5GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-3; D-3; L-1; GF-10; GA-8
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-1; D-1; L-1; GF-3; GA-5
- Goals: Nelson Bonilla (4); Arturo Alvarez, Jonathan Barrios, Darwin Ceren, Irvin Herrera, Alexander Larin, Pablo Punyed (1)
- Conceded 5 goals in last 5 2018 WCQs … posted 3 shutouts over that stretch
- Prior to 2-2 home draw v Honduras, scored 1 goal or fewer in previous 4 2018 WCQs
- World Cup Appearances: 2 (1970, 1982)
GROUP B
COSTA RICA v JAMAICA
Estadio Nacional – San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rica (1st place: 2W-1D-0L … 4GF, 2GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-2; D-1; L-0; GF-4; GA-2
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-1; D-0; L-0; GF-1; GA-0
- Goals: Jhonny Acosta, Cristian Gamboa, Bryan Ruiz, Marco Ureña (1)
- Quarterfinals, 2014 FIFA World Cup
- Champion, 2014 Central American (record-extending 8th title)
- Quarterfinals, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- 3 of 4 2018 WCQ goals scored in second half
- Marco Ureña was the joint-top scorer in the 2011 Copa Centroamericana with El Salvador’s Rafael Burgos (3 goals)
- World Cup Appearances: 4 (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014)
Jamaica (3rd place: 1W-1D-1L … 2GF, 3GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-2; D-1; L-2; GF-6; GA-6
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-2; D-0; L-0; GF-3; GA-0
- Goals: Darren Mattocks (2); Simon Dawkins, Clayton Donaldson, Adrian Mariappa, Je-Vaughn Watson (1)
- Runner-up, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Champion, 2014 Caribbean Cup
- 0W-1D-2L in 3 2018 WCQ home games
- After scoring in his previous 4 appearances in competitive internationals, Darren Mattocks has not scored in his last 3 … he had scored in 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal v USA; 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final v Mexico; 2018 World Cup Qualifying, third round, first leg v Nicaragua; 2018 World Cup Qualifying, third round, second leg v Nicaragua
- Wes Morgan has appeared in all 31 league games for first-place Leicester City in the English Premier League this
- World Cup Appearances: 1 (1998)
PANAMA v HAITI
Estadio Rommel Fernandez – Panama City, Panama
Panama (2nd place: 1W-1D-1L … 3GF, 2GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-1; D-1; L-1; GF-3; GA-2
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-0; D-0; L-1; GF-1; GA-2
- Goals: Armando Cooper, Luis Tejada, own-goal in favor of (1)
- Third Place, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Posted shutouts in 2 of 3 2018 WCQs … both on the road
- World Cup Appearances: 0
Haiti (4th place: 0W-1D-2L … 0GF, 2GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-2; D-1; L-2; GF-6; GA-3
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-1; D-0; L-1; GF-3; GA-2
- Goals: Duckens Nazon (2); Kervens Belfort, Mechak Jerome, Wilde-Donald Guerrier, Jean-Eudes Maurice (1)
- Quarterfinals, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Third Place, 2014 Caribbean Cup
- 0 goals scored in last 3 WCQs
- Duckens Nazon scored both of Haiti’s 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup goals
- World Cup Appearances: 1 (1974)
GROUP C
USA v GUATEMALA
MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus, Ohio, USA
USA (3rd place: 1W-1D-1L … 6GF, 3GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-1; D-1; L-1; GF-6; GA-3
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-1; D-0; L-0; GF-6; GA-1
- Goals: Jozy Altidore (2); Geoff Cameron, Fabian Johnson, Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes (1)
- Fourth Place, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Clint Dempsey is USA’s all-time leading scorer v Guatemala (5 goals)
- 0 goals scored in last 196 minutes of WCQ play
- World Cup Appearances: 10 (1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Guatemala (2nd place: 2W-0D-1L … 7GF, 2GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-4; D-1; L-2; GF-10; GA-3
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-2; D-0; L-1; GF-5; GA-1
- Goals: Stefano Cincotta, Denniss Lopez, Carlos Ruiz (2); Mynor Lopez, Carlos Mejia, Rafael Morales, Gerson Tinoco (1)
- Carlos Ruiz is CONCACAF’s all-time leading WCQ scorer (32 goals)
- Conceded 1 goal or fewer in 6 of 7 2018 WCQs, including 5 shutouts
- World Cup Appearances: 0
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO v ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Hasely Crawford Stadium – Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago (1st place: 2W-1D-0L … 5GF, 3GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-2; D-1; L-0; GF-5; GA-3
- 2018 WCQ Home Record: W-0; D-1; L-0; GF-0; GA-0
- Goals: Levi Garcia, Kenwyne Jones (2); Khaleem Hyland (1)
- Quarterfinals, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Runner-up, 2014 Caribbean Cup
- All 5 2018 WCQ goals scored in 2nd half
- Kenwyne Jones is only player on current to appear in a World Cup (2006)
- World Cup Appearances: 1 (2006)
St. Vincent & the Grenadines (4th place: 0W-0D-3L … 3GF, 13GA)
- 2018 WCQ Overall Record: W-1; D-2; L-4; GF-12; GA-21
- 2018 WCQ Away Record: W-0; D-1; L-2; GF-6; GA-12
- Goals: Tevin Slater (5); Oalex Anderson (3); Myron Samuel (2); Shandel Samuel, Cornelius Stewart (1)
- Tevin Slater is CONCACAF’s top scorer in 2018 WCQ (5 goals)
- Conceded 2 goals or more in 6 of 7 2018 WCQs
- Scored 1 goal or more in 6 of 7 2018 WCQs
- World Cup Appearances: 0
