Hexagonal (CONCACAF)

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Costa Rica facing Honduras during the first matchday of the Hexagonal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Costa Rica - Honduras.jpg
Costa Rica facing Honduras during the first matchday of the Hexagonal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

In association football, the term Hexagonal (known in English as The Hex [1] ) was often used to refer to the final round of FIFA World Cup qualification among the six remaining teams in CONCACAF. [2] The six-team round robin format was used by CONCACAF since the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification process, up until the 2018 tournament. For 2022, this round was expanded to eight teams or an octagonal. It was modeled after the CONCACAF Championship which used the format ever since its second edition in 1965, and served as the World Cup qualifying tournament from 1974 to 1990.

Contents

The United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica were present in every Hexagonal. [3] [4] Mexico was the only national team that qualified for the FIFA World Cup in every Hexagonal.

The Hexagonal, or Hex for short, was named for the hexagon (a six sided shape) due to there being six teams remaining in the tournament at the time. [5]

United States vs. Mexico rivalry

The Columbus Crew Stadium before the 11 November 2016 match between Mexico and the United States, which saw the Mexicans end the Dos a Cero streak Mapfre-stadium-hosts-USA-Mexico 11-11-2016.JPG
The Columbus Crew Stadium before the 11 November 2016 match between Mexico and the United States, which saw the Mexicans end the Dos a Cero streak

The United States and Mexico were the most successful teams in the Hexagonal, with Mexico qualifying for every World Cup since 1994. Indeed, the Mexico–United States soccer rivalry has been hotly contested during the Hexagonal. Matches between the two opponents hosted by Mexico often sell out the 100,000 seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City; matches hosted in the United States are often held in cold northern cities such as Columbus, Ohio.

Episodes of this rivalry during Hexagonal matchdays include the Dos a Cero, a streak of four consecutive 2–0 victories for the United States at the Columbus Crew Stadium between 2001 and 2013. [6] [7] [8] The streak ended on November 11, 2016 as the Mexicans defeated the Americans 1–2. [9]

Another noteworthy event occurred on 15 October 2013, the final matchday of the Hexagonal on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Mexicans were out of the World Cup as they were losing against Costa Rica in San José and Panama were defeating the Americans, both matches by 2–1. However, during stoppage time, Graham Zusi and Aron Jóhannsson scored for the United States, resulting in an American victory by 3–2, which helped Mexico qualify to the intercontinental play-off series against New Zealand. [10] The United States national team Twitter account mocked the Mexicans by tweeting #YoureWelcomeMexico and tagging their Mexican counterparts' profile. [11] Because of the significance of his goal, Zusi received recognition from some Mexican fans as "a saint". [12] Zusi also revealed that Mexican player Marco Fabián thanked him for the goal. [13]

1998

The first hexagonal round was played in 1997, between 2 March and 16 November. Mexico topped the round robin undefeated, being the only team to do so. [14] Jamaica qualified to their first (and so far, only) FIFA World Cup. [15] It was Canada's only participation in the hexagonal round, and their last appearance at the final stage of a FIFA World Cup qualification until 2022, in which he qualified for the tournament after 36 years. [16]

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Mexico.svgFlag of the United States.svgFlag of Jamaica.svgFlag of Costa Rica.svgFlag of El Salvador.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg
1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10460237+1618Qualification to 1998 FIFA World Cup 0–0 6–0 3–3 5–0 4–0
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10451179+817 2–2 1–1 1–0 4–2 3–0
3Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 10352712514 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0
4Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 103341312+112 0–0 3–2 3–1 0–0 3–1
5Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 102441116510 0–1 1–1 2–2 2–1 4–1
6Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 10136520156 2–2 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

2002

The second edition of The Hex was played in 2001, between 28 February and 11 November. It was topped by Costa Rica, who totaled a record 23 points. [17] The Costa Ricans marked the first defeat Mexico ever had at a World Cup qualification match at home soil, in a match known as El Aztecazo . [18]

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Costa Rica.svgFlag of Mexico.svgFlag of the United States.svgFlag of Honduras (1949-2022).svgFlag of Jamaica.svgFlag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 10721177+1023Qualified to the 2002 FIFA World Cup 0–02–02–22–13–0
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10523169+7171–21–03–04–03–0
3Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10523118+3171–02–02–32–12–0
4Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 1042417170142–33–11–21–00–1
5Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 10226714780–11–20–01–11–0
6Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 101275181350–21–10–02–41–2
Source: FIFA

2006

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Costa Rica.svg Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Flag of Guatemala.svg Flag of Panama.svg
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10712166+1022 [a] 2006 FIFA World Cup 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–0
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10712229+1322 [a] 2–1 2–0 2–0 5–2 5–0
3Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 105141514+116 3–0 1–2 2–0 3–2 2–1
4Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 104151015513 Inter-confederation play-offs 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–2 2–0
5Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 103251618211 0–0 0–2 3–1 5–1 2–1
6Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 10028421172 0–3 1–1 1–3 0–1 0–0
Source: [19]
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Tied on head-to-head points (3). Head-to-head goal difference: United States +1, Mexico −1.

2010

The six teams that reached the fourth round formed one double-round-robin, home-and-away group nicknamed the "Hexagonal." The top three teams qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The fourth place team qualified for a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Flag of Costa Rica.svg Flag of El Salvador.svg Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 106221913+620Qualification to 2010 FIFA World Cup 2–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 3–0
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 106131812+619 2–1 1–0 2–0 4–1 2–1
3Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 105141711+616 2–3 3–1 4–0 1–0 4–1
4Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 105141515016Advance to inter-confederation play-offs 3–1 0–3 2–0 1–0 4–0
5Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 1022691568 2–2 2–1 0–1 1–0 2–2
6Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 101361022126 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–3 1–0
Source: [20]

2014

In the fourth round, the three group winners and three runners-up from the third round competed in a double round robin, including a home and away match against the other five teams between 6 February and 15 October 2013. The draw for 'The Hex' was conducted by FIFA on 7 November 2012. [21]

The top three teams qualified directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, while the fourth-placed team advanced to a home-away series against the winner of Oceania, which ended up being New Zealand. Teams are ranked first by total points in all games, then, if tied, by best goal differential in all games, then by total goals in all games. If still tied, the same criteria are applied to games among the tied teams (including head-to-head away goals scored).

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of the United States.svgFlag of Costa Rica.svgFlag of Honduras (1949-2022).svgFlag of Mexico.svgFlag of Panama.svgFlag of Jamaica.svg
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10712158+722Qualification to 2014 FIFA World Cup 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0
2Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 10532137+618 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–0
3Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 104331312+115 2–1 1–0 2–2 2–2 2–0
4Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1025379211Advance to inter-confederation play-offs 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–0
5Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 10154101448 2–3 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–0
6Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1005551385 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1
Source: [22]

2018

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of Costa Rica.svg Flag of Panama.svg Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10631167+921Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup 2–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 3–1
2Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 10442148+616 1–1 0–0 1–1 4–0 2–1
3Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 10343910113 0–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–0
4Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 103431319613Advance to inter-confederation play-offs 3–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–1
5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 103341713+412 1–2 0–2 4–0 6–0 2–0
6Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 10208719126 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 2–1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Replacement and future

The Hexagonal was initially the top-seeded round in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, [23] but, following FIFA's decision on 25 June 2020 to postpone the September international window due to the COVID-19 pandemic (except UEFA), CONCACAF noted that "The challenges presented by postponements to the football calendar, and the incomplete FIFA rankings cycle in our confederation, means our current World Cup qualifying process has been compromised and will be changed." [24] The confederation eventually announced on 27 July its new qualifying format for the World Cup, replacing the Hexagonal with an eight-team final round, [25] dubbed the Octagonal. FIFA subsequently announced that a January–February window will be used for all confederations except UEFA. [26]

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Canada, the United States, and Mexico automatically qualified as co-hosts, so they will not participate in qualifiers for the final tournament, which will be expanded to 48 teams. The number of places allocated to CONCACAF for the 2026 tournament has been increased from three and a half to six including the hosts, meaning three non-hosting CONCACAF teams will earn their berths in the final tournament from the CONCACAF qualifiers, along with two intercontinental play-off berths (one for each confederation except UEFA and one additional berth as CONCACAF is the host confederation).

Records

Ranking of teams

#TeamHexagonalsTimes qualifiedTotal apps
199820022006201020142018
1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 12224166
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 23111556
3Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 41342246
4Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 433424
5Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 35613
6Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 65313
7Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 646614
8Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 5502
9Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 501
10Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 601
Notes
  Team finished as leaders and qualified to the FIFA World Cup
  Team finished as second or third place and qualified to the FIFA World Cup
  Team finished as fourth place and qualified to the FIFA World Cup after winning an intercontinental play-off
   Team finished as fourth place and failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after losing an intercontinental play-off
  Team finished as fourth place and did not qualify to the FIFA World Cup, as there was no intercontinental play-off slot for the tournament

All-time table

3 points per win, 1 point per draw and 0 points per loss.

TeamTotalsHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 603214149557+381103024336118437530811113439−535
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 6030181210253+491083022627016547230812103237−536
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 602914178763+24101302172572136703087153042−1231
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 401610146059+15820114538221637205692237−1521
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 4086263274–4230206592227−5232021171047−377
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 30512131939–202715474111101915159828−208
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 30411152345–2223154741617−119150411728−214
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 2046102031–111810442161241610028419−152
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 103251618–21153111055105014613−71
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 10136520–156513135−265005215−130

Team

Individual

#
goals
PlayerMatchQualification
4 Flag of Mexico.svg Francisco Fonseca Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 5–2 Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 2006
3 Flag of Mexico.svg Carlos Hermosillo Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 6–0 Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1998
3 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlos Pavon Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 3–1 Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2002
3 Flag of the United States.svg Jozy Altidore Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3–0 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 2010
3 Flag of the United States.svg Clint Dempsey Flag of the United States.svg  United States 6–0 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 2018

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerGoals
scored
Matches
played
Goals
per game
Qualifications
1 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlos Pavón 12170.712002, 2010
2 Flag of the United States.svg Jozy Altidore 11290.382010, 2014, 2018
3 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Paulo Wanchope 10200.501998, 2002, 2006
4 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlo Costly 9170.532010, 2014
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Stern John 9230.402002, 2006, 2010
6 Flag of Mexico.svg Carlos Hermosillo 8100.801998
Flag of Mexico.svg Cuauhtémoc Blanco 8190.421998, 2002, 2006, 2010
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Álvaro Saborío 8210.382006, 2010, 2014
Flag of the United States.svg Clint Dempsey 8280.292006, 2010, 2014, 2018
10 Flag of Mexico.svg Jared Borgetti 7140.502002, 2006
Flag of the United States.svg Landon Donovan 7260.272002, 2006, 2010, 2014
12 Flag of Mexico.svg Francisco Fonseca 690.662006
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Bryan Ruiz 6270.222010, 2014, 2018
14 Flag of Mexico.svg Benjamín Galindo 580.621998
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Rolando Fonseca 5160.311998, 2002, 2006
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Bradley 5240.212010, 2014, 2018
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Celso Borges 5260.202010, 2014, 2018
Flag of the United States.svg Christian Pulisic 5100.502018

Top goalscorers by tournament

QualificationTop scorer(s)Goals
Flag of France.svg 1998 Flag of Mexico.svg Carlos Hermosillo 8
Flag of South Korea.svg Flag of Japan.svg 2002 Flag of Mexico.svg Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Rolando Fonseca
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlos Pavón
5
Flag of Germany.svg 2006 Flag of Mexico.svg Francisco Fonseca 6
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlos Pavón 7
Flag of Brazil.svg 2014 Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Carlo Costly
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Jerry Bengtson
Flag of the United States.svg Jozy Altidore
4
Flag of Russia.svg 2018 Flag of the United States.svg Christian Pulisic 5

References

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  12. "Zusi, reconocido por aficionados del Tri como 'santo'". Récord (in Spanish). 18 October 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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  15. "Jamaican footballing names that should not be forgotten". The Jamaica Observer . 2 October 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  16. Hernandez, Dan. "Why Canada Will Make the Hex This Time". Waking the Red. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  17. "Solo un Aztecazo". Al Día. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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