Soccer

USA vs. Panama 2017: Start time, TV channel for 2018 Word Cup qualifier

The pressure is on for the USMNT.

Oct 6, 2017, 12:55 PM UTC

Soccer: FIFA World Cup Qualifier-Costa Rica at USA

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

It’s crunch time for the United States national team in its hopes of qualifying for the World Cup out of a CONCACAF qualification tournament that’s been more competitive than it’s been in recent memory. With two matches to go in the final Hex round, the USMNT is far from guaranteed a spot in Russia in 2018, making this match against Panama — the team directly ahead of the USMNT in the standings — an absolute must-win scenario.

Here’s how things stand for the United States: in fourth place out of the six teams in the Hex with nine points, one behind third-place Panama. That would, if the group ended before this match began, leave the U.S. in the playoff match against the winner of an Asian qualifier between Australia and Syria, which despite being a good matchup for the U.S. on paper, is not how the team wants to qualify.

A win over Panama would be a good start toward getting direct qualification, but wins over Panama aren’t easy. The U.S. has drawn 1-1 in the last two matches it played against Los Canaleros, in the Gold Cup and earlier in the Hex — and in fact, dating back to the 2015 Gold Cup, the U.S. hasn’t beaten Panama in their last four meetings. They’ve won 12 times against Panama in the last 25 years, losing just twice, but that history won’t matter a lick if they can’t get all three points on Friday.

And if the U.S. doesn’t get all three points on Friday, they open themselves up to a distinct possibility of not qualifying, with Honduras lurking just behind them also on nine points. That would be courting disaster, and USMNT fans will be hoping that they’re left with little to nothing to worry about after their match against Panama.