2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF third round

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The third round of CONCACAF matches for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, nicknamed the Octagonal (for the eight teams participating), [1] was played from September 2021 to March 2022. [2] Canada (qualifying for the first time since 1986), Mexico, and the United States qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Costa Rica advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs. Panama, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Honduras were eliminated in this round.

Contents

The match on 16 November 2021 between Canada and Mexico, held in Edmonton, marked the coldest match played in Mexican football history, kicking off at −9 °C (16 °F) with a heavy snowstorm the day before. [3] [4] The match was seen by 2.1 million viewers in the United States on the day of its original broadcast, becoming Telemundo's most-watched sporting event since the 2019 Copa América final. [5]

Format

Eight teams (CONCACAF teams ranked 1 to 5 based on the FIFA rankings of July 2020, and the three winners of the second round) played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format for a total of 14 matches per team. The top three teams qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, while the fourth-placed team advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs to get one of the last 2 places in the tournament. [6] [7] [8]

Schedule

The third round was originally scheduled to begin in June 2021, but was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. [9] The full schedule for the third round was announced on 16 June 2021, [10] and confirmed on 9 August 2021. [11]

MatchdayDatesMatchesOriginal dates
Matchday 12 September 20211 v 2, 3 v 4, 5 v 6, 7 v 8June 2021
Matchday 25 September 20214 v 1, 3 v 2, 6 v 7, 8 v 5
Matchday 38 September 20211 v 3, 2 v 4, 5 v 7, 6 v 8
Matchday 47 October 20217 v 1, 2 v 6, 3 v 5, 4 v 8
Matchday 510 October 20218 v 1, 7 v 2, 6 v 3, 5 v 4September 2021
Matchday 613 October 20211 v 5, 2 v 8, 3 v 7, 4 v 6
Matchday 712 November 20211 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 8, 4 v 7October 2021
Matchday 816 November 20211 v 7, 6 v 2, 5 v 3, 8 v 4
Matchday 927 January 20222 v 1, 4 v 3, 6 v 5, 8 v 7November 2021
Matchday 1030 January 20221 v 4, 2 v 3, 7 v 6, 5 v 8
Matchday 112 February 20223 v 1, 4 v 2, 7 v 5, 8 v 6January 2022
Matchday 1224 March 20226 v 1, 5 v 2, 8 v 3, 7 v 4
Matchday 1327 March 20221 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5March 2022
Matchday 1430 March 20225 v 1, 8 v 2, 7 v 3, 6 v 4

Qualified teams

The top five teams based on the FIFA rankings of July 2020 (shown in parentheses) received a bye to the third round. [12] For consistency, the three winners of the second round are shown with their FIFA rankings as of July 2020. [12]

Bye to third round Second round winners
  1. Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico (11)
  2. Flag of the United States.svg  United States (22)
  3. Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica (46)
  4. Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica (48)
  5. Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras (62)
  1. Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador (69)
  2. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (73)
  3. Flag of Panama.svg  Panama (81)

Draw

The draw for the third round was held, along with the draw for the first round, on 19 August 2020, 19:00 CEST (UTC+2), at the FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland. [13]

Teams were drawn from a single pot, and then were allocated a position (from 1 to 8) to determine the match schedule. The identity of the three second round winners was not known at the time of the draw. [14]

Note: Bolded teams qualified for the World Cup. Costa Rica advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Draw
position
Team
1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada [a]
2Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
3Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador [a]
4Flag of the United States.svg  United States
5Flag of Panama.svg  Panama [a]
6Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
7Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
8Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Canada (Pantone).svgFlag of Mexico.svgFlag of the United States.svgFlag of Costa Rica.svgFlag of Panama.svgFlag of Jamaica.svgFlag of El Salvador.svgFlag of Honduras (2022-).svg
1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 14842237+1628 2022 FIFA World Cup 2–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 4–0 3–0 1–1
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 14842178+928 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0
3Flag of the United States.svg  United States 147432110+1125 1–1 2–0 2–1 5–1 2–0 1–0 3–0
4Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 14743138+525 Inter-confederation play-offs 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1
5Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 146351719221 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 2–1 1–1
6Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1425712221011 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–3 1–1 2–1
7Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 142488181010 0–2 0–2 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–0
8Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras 140410726194 0–2 0–1 1–4 0–0 2–3 0–2 0–2
Source: FIFA, CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Matches

Matchday 1

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg1–1Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
  • Larin Soccerball shade.svg66' (pen.)
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
BMO Field, Toronto
Attendance: 14,822
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg0–0Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg2–1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg0–0Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Matchday 2

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg0–3Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg0–0Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg0–1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

United States  Flag of the United States.svg1–1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville
Attendance: 43,028
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Matchday 3

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg3–0Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
BMO Field, Toronto
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg1–1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg1–1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Nacional, San José
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg1–4Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Matchday 4

United States  Flag of the United States.svg2–0Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Q2 Stadium, Austin
Attendance: 20,500
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg0–0Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg1–1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 61,200
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg1–0Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Matchday 5

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg0–0Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg2–1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Nacional, San José
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg1–0Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg3–0Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)

Matchday 6

United States  Flag of the United States.svg2–1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Lower.com Field, Columbus
Attendance: 20,165
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg4–1Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
BMO Field, Toronto
Attendance: 26,622
Referee: Armando Villarreal (United States)

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg0–2Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg0–2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)

Matchday 7

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg2–3Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg1–1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg1–0Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

United States  Flag of the United States.svg2–0Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)

Matchday 8

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg1–1Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg2–1Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg2–1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2–1 Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Attendance: 44,212
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

Matchday 9

United States  Flag of the United States.svg1–0Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Lower.com Field, Columbus
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg1–2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg0–2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg1–0Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Nacional, San José
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)

Matchday 10

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg2–0Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: César Ramos (Mexico)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg3–2Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg0–0Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

Honduras  Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg0–2Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Matchday 11

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg0–1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
National Stadium, Kingston
Attendance: 0
Referee: Marco Ortíz (Mexico) [c]

United States  Flag of the United States.svg3–0Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Allianz Field, Saint Paul
Attendance: 19,202
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg0–2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg1–0Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)

Matchday 12

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg1–1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg1–1Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg0–0Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 47,000
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg1–0Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Nacional, San José
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

Matchday 13

Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg4–0Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
BMO Field, Toronto [22]
Attendance: 29,122
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

El Salvador  Flag of El Salvador.svg1–2Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

United States  Flag of the United States.svg5–1Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando [23]
Attendance: 25,022
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)

Matchday 14

Panama  Flag of Panama.svg1–0Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)

Jamaica  Flag of Jamaica.svg2–1Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
National Stadium, Kingston
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)

Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg2–0Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 65,200
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Costa Rica  Flag of Costa Rica.svg2–0Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Estadio Nacional, San José
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 118 goals scored in 56 matches, for an average of 2.11 goals per match.

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Awards

Best XI

CONCACAF announced the following squad as the best eleven of the third round of qualifying after the conclusion of the campaign. [24]

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Keylor Navas Flag of Mexico.svg César Montes
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Francisco Calvo
Flag of the United States.svg Walker Zimmerman
Flag of the United States.svg Christian Pulisic
Flag of Mexico.svg Edson Álvarez
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Stephen Eustáquio
Flag of Mexico.svg Héctor Herrera
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Joel Campbell
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cyle Larin
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jonathan David

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Identity of the team unknown at the time of the draw.
  2. The Panama v Mexico match was originally scheduled on 8 September 2021, 20:05 local time, [11] but was re-scheduled to 19:05 local time since Panama maintained a midnight curfew as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]
  3. Referee Jair Marrufo from United States, who was originally assigned to the Jamaica v Costa Rica match, [18] was replaced by Marco Ortíz from Mexico. [19]
  4. The Jamaica v El Salvador match was originally scheduled on 24 September 2021, 19:00 local time, [20] but was rescheduled to 18:05 local time. [21]

References

  1. Creditor, Avi (1 September 2021). "The Favorites, Potential Pitfalls and Features of Concacaf's World Cup Qualifying Octagonal". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  2. "Draw to determine schedule for Final Round of CONCACAF Qualifiers to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF . 12 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  3. "The Iceteca: Canada beats Mexico 2-1 in Edmonton chill". Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. "Sources: Canada loss Mexico's coldest on record". ESPN.com. 17 November 2021.
  5. Haring, Bruce (17 November 2021). "Telemundo Deportes' Canada Vs. Mexico World Cup Match Is Its Most-Watched Sporting Event in Two Years". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  6. "New CONCACAF Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  7. "European and intercontinental play-off draw results and reaction". FIFA. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. Allen, William (26 November 2021). "2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-off draw: fixtures and format". as.com. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. "CONCACAF confirms schedule for Concacaf Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  10. "Eight teams confirmed for Final Round of Concacaf WCQ". CONCACAF. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Concacaf and FIFA confirm schedule for region's Final Round of World Cup Qualifying". CONCACAF. 9 August 2021.
  12. 1 2 "FIFA Men's Ranking – July 2020 (CONCACAF)". FIFA.com. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020.
  13. "CONCACAF preliminary draw for FIFA World Cup 2022 to take place on 19 August". FIFA . 12 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  14. "FIFA World Cup 2022 Preliminary Draw (CONCACAF): Draw procedures" (PDF). FIFA. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. "Mexico hit with FIFA fan ban at two home World Cup qualifiers". Reuters. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. "FIFA reduces penalty on Mexico for anti-gay chants at games". Associated Press. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  17. Yu, Kevin (7 September 2021). "El Panamá vs. México del Octagonal Final cambia de horario" (in Spanish). TUDN.
  18. "January WCQ concludes with U.S., Mexico seeking home wins". CONCACAF. 31 January 2022.
  19. "Cambios en Designaciones Arbitrales Internacionales: Eliminatoria Mundialista de la Concacaf". arbitraje.fmf.mx (in Spanish). Mexican Football Federation. 29 January 2022.
  20. "Concacaf and FIFA confirm schedule for the region's final matches of men's World Cup Qualifying". CONCACAF. 18 February 2022.
  21. Valiente, Josue (7 March 2022). "Confirman cambio de hora para el Jamaica-El Salvador" [Kick-off time change confirmed for Jamaica-El Salvador] (in Spanish). El Gráfico.
  22. "Canada returns to Toronto for all-important FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match on 27 March". Canada Soccer. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  23. "USMNT Makes Choice for Last Home World Cup Qualifier". U.S. Soccer. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  24. "Navas, Larin star in Concacaf WCQ Best XI". CONCACAF. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.