World Cup qualifiers

Just five goals scored across five first-leg matches in Africa's World Cup qualifying playoffs.

With away goals counting double if teams finish level on aggregate, a 0-0 draw in Casablanca on Tuesday would take Morocco to the World Cup. Tarik Tissoudali scored a brilliant equaliser as Morocco moved closer to a sixth World Cup appearance by drawing 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Kinshasa. Mohamed Salah was the architect of the lone goal as Egypt edged Senegal 1-0 in Cairo in a World Cup playoff first leg.

These games will always be important when it comes to bragging rights, but it's also clear that there won't be another night quite like this.

That the U. S. will have to play without the injured quartet of Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Matt Turner and Brenden Aaronson makes it a massive task indeed. U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter even went so far as to say the U.S. team's record at the Azteca is "horrendous." "I'll probably not eat or drink after 11 a.m. tomorrow," added Stephanie Casiano, who works for a health care provider in San Antonio. "It's going to be like, all the nerves. Yet for El Tri, pessimism rules the day, in no small part due to the three-game losing streak it is currently suffering against the U. S. The day before the game, sports newspaper CANCHA put Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi front and center (and over Mexico players) with a "They Have An Advantage On Us" caption. In short: Due to a variety of different complaints about how Mexican soccer is governed and run, fans have made online threats about the usage of the anti-gay chant in the game against the United States, which could then potentially hurt the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). Mexico is probably the more desperate side, and the U. S. team's home match against Panama on Sunday is more important in the overall picture of qualification. While such thoughts focus on the future, it is the present that concerns the U. S., and the stakes surrounding Thursday's encounter are high indeed. The neuroses of both teams are also in full bloom. Up to now, the World Cup qualifiers between the two neighbors have been the first fans have looked for when the fixtures are released. By the time the 2030 qualifiers beckon, the World Cup will have expanded to 48 teams, which could result in the number of automatic qualifying spots from CONCACAF being doubled to six. From afar, it looks like a hulking birthday cake was plopped down in the Santa Ursula neighborhood of Mexico City. As you get closer, the concrete supports look like the collective arms of Mexico supporters, pushing up on the venue's rim and out of the ground. In many ways, it feels like the end of an era.

Mexico may sit third in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying table, but a spot in the winter event is still there for the taking.

4 4 Mexico is guaranteed a top-four finish either way. The top three get automatic berths to Qatar and fourth place plays in June's intercontinental playoff. Here's how Mexico can achieve just that. +3 for Costa Rica). That scenario is possible but highly unlikely.

They're almost there. After holding second place in the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying standings with a 0-0 draw in Mexico City on Thursday night, the US men's ...

Manager Thomas Christiansen's group has been arguably the surprise of Concacaf qualifying. The Yanks were also hurt by yellow cards to Inter Miami CF's DeAndre Yedlin and Tim Weah. - AND ... Costa Rica ties or loses at El Salvador on March 27.

How to watch and stream - Sportsnet, OneSoccer in Canada; Paramount+ in US - YouTube Watchalong with Tosaint Ricketts.

Gray is a regular attacking contributor for QPR in the England League Championship. Winger Leon Bailey of the Premier League's Aston Villa is still with the squad despite their elimination from World Cup contention. The biggest storyline is surely how Canada can clinch a World Cup spot on home soil, with Sunday shaping up to be their brightest men's soccer moment in nearly four decades. The Canadian men's national team had their celebrations delayed Thursday night in a 1-0 loss at Costa Rica, but still remain in great position to earn their first FIFA World Cup berth since 1986 with a point on Sunday at home against Jamaica.