Well, Panama is out of the World Cup, the two teams that were not able to go to Russia because of a phantom goal given to Panama in their last game made sure they didn't go. Honduras started their elimination with a draw at the Romel Fernandez stadium and the USA finished it by demolishing them 5-1 today.
Ok, we Honduras lost 1-0 to Mexico, again mostly due to bad luck as has been the fact during this whole qualification series, we lost or drew games by conceding goals in the last minutes of most games. Still, at least I saw a big improvement in play and morale in these last two games, perhaps we can still come up with a good team even though we are out of Qatar.
As for the rest, well Canada is the only team that is directly qualified even though I would think the USA with their goal difference is also in, in fact, if Canada loses their last game against Panama the USA could finish up first. As for the other qualified team, it looks like Mexico nearly has it clinched. a draw in Mexico against El Salvador, or even a 1-0 loss would probably see them through. That leaves Costa Rica going to a playoff against New Zealand.
We had a playoff against Australia for the Russia World Cup, we drew here and lost 3-1 in Australia. I think New Zealand is a weaker team than Australia, it is only one game-winner takes it all, to be played in Doha, Qatar. So the usual move by FIFA of making the CONCACAF team play the second game as visitors will not be possible here. Let's see if Costa Rica can do it and we (CONCACAF) have four teams in Qatar.
As for Honduras, this qualification series has been a catastrophe, I blame it on COVID, our former coach who is from Uruguay spent all of 2020 and part of 2021 in Uruguay, we had not much preparation, Ok that is the most excuse I will put, we had good attackers but they sucked, and as I said the defense seemed to just play for 87 minutes after that anything went through. We were just not up to it.