Opening the qualification process at El Salvador in September, a young U.S. side played to a spirited 0-0 draw in front of a near-capacity crowd at Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador. A record-tying 12 U.S. players made their World Cup Qualifying debut in the match and contributed to denying the hosts two valuable points in its first final round qualifier since 1989.
Returning home to face Canada on Sept. 5, the USMNT encountered a Les Rouges side content to sit back and contain with hopes of taking a point on the road. Twenty-year-old USMNT attacker Brenden Aaronson broke the deadlock 10 minutes after halftime, but Canada bounced back just seven minutes later as Alphonso Davies broke in on the left and found Cyle Larin for the equalizer in the 62nd minute, forcing the 1-1 draw on Sept. 5.
BEHIND THE CREST: USMNT Earns Road Point at El Salvador
With two points from two matches, the USMNT went back on the road to Honduras three days later. Gregg Berhalter elected to start what at the time was the youngest USMNT World Cup Qualifying lineup of all-time, including 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi. After Brayan Moya’s 27th minute header put Honduras ahead at the break, the 18-year-old striker spearheaded a second-half comeback, assisting on Antonee Robinson’s 48th minute equalizer, before nodding the USA ahead with his first international goal in the 75th minute.
As Honduras pushed to tie the match, Pepi linked up with Brenden Aaronson who put the game on ice in the 87th minute before Sebastian Lletget put home a rebound on Pepi’s shot in second-half stoppage time to close out a resounding 4-1 comeback win on Sept. 8
BEHIND THE CREST: USMNT Secures Comeback Road Win in Honduras
The USMNT reconvened for its first World Cup Qualifier in Austin to begin the October window and Pepi remained the hot hand, scoring both goals in a comprehensive 2-0 victory against Jamaica. The win combined with other results around the region pushed the USA into first place in the table after four matches.
Berhalter elected to make seven changes to his squad in the team’s visit to Panama three days later. In a game with few chances, a cagey USMNT side frustrated the hosts through the first half, but surrendered a header to Anibal Godoy in the 54th minute and couldn’t find an equalizer, falling 1-0 on Oct. 10 in Panama City.
BEHIND THE CREST: USMNT Secures Comeback Win vs. Costa Rica
Returning to open up a new home at Lower.com Field in Columbus against Costa Rica, the USA fell behind early when Keysher Fuller gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the first minute. The team went on the front foot and pulled things level through Sergiño Dest’s left-footed rocket in the 25th minute, before Tim Weah forced an own goal in the 66th to ensure a 2-1 U.S. victory.
The three points earned in Columbus pushed the USA into second place at the end of the October window.
Every four years, fans from both sides of the border mark their calendars on the date for the marquee matchup in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying: USA-Mexico. Leading off the only two-match window of the Octagonal, this game had extra spice – if it could handle any more – with the USMNT having defeated El Tri in back-to-back championship games during the summer, capturing the inaugural Concacaf Nations League title as well at the 2021 Gold Cup crown. But it’s in qualifying where results matters most, and U.S. Soccer selected newly minted TQL Stadium in Cincinnati to provide the environment for the USA to take a critical three points.
BEHIND THE CREST: USMNT Revives 'Dos a Cero' Against Mexico
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa decided to add his own fuel to the fire in the lead up, suggesting that his team was the “mirror” in which the USMNT wanted to see itself. Christian Pulisic had a message of his own to deliver, when in the 74thminute he headed home an expertly delivered cross from Tim Weah to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. During the ensuing celebration Pulisic lifted his t-shirt to reveal his response: “Man in the Mirror.” When Weston McKennie beat Ochoa again in the 85thminute to double the lead, a familiar and heart-warming chant rang out through the stadium: “Dos a Cero! Dos a Cero!”The final whistle blew, and as Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” played, the U.S. players celebrated another historic victory against El Trí.
