United States qualify for World Cup 2022 despite defeat to Costa Rica

The United States secured qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite a 2-0 defeat to Costa Rica in San Jose on Wednesday.

On the final matchday of Concacaf qualifying, the United States knew that a win, draw or loss by less than six goals would ensure a return to the World Cup finals after the Americans’ 5-1 rout of Panama at home last weekend gave them a huge goal-difference advantage over Costa Rica.

The match went smoothly for the US until Juan Pablo Vargas made it 1-0 in the 51st minute and Anthony Contreras doubled the lead eight minutes later.

Vargas got behind Walker Zimmerman and headed Brandon Aguilera’s corner kick past goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the 51st minute, and Contreras knocked in a cross off a scramble in the 59th after Steffen couldn’t hold onto a free kick.

Victory eluded the US team but they still celebrated a return to the World Cup after the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2018 tournament in Russia when defeat to Trinidad and Tobago derailed their campaign.

"I'm extremely proud of this group," US star Christian Pulisic said after Wednesday's result. "It's a bit of a weird feeling right now because I hate to lose so much. But I'm really proud and I can't wait to go to the World Cup.

"It's definitely been a roller coaster. It's never easy to come down and play in these countries, we know that.

"We battled through most of it. And at the end of the day, we're at the top three and we're going to the World Cup so we should be proud."

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa celebrates their World Cup qualification. Reuters

Mexico also booked their World Cup ticket after defeating El Salvador 2-0 in Mexico City to finish second overall ahead of the US and behind Canada.

Mexico ended their see-saw