The United States Men’s National Team is moving onto “The Hex.”
Sacha Kljestan struck before halftime, Jozy Altidore notched a second-half brace and Paul Arriola added a late fourth in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, vaulting the U.S. atop Group C in CONCACAF’s semifinal round of World Cup qualifying. The result sends the Americans to the Hexagonal, where six CONCACAF nations will battle for three spots in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi was an unused substitute in Tuesday’s match at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Zusi played 90 minutes in last Friday’s 6-0 win at St. Vincent and the Grenadines alongside club teammate Matt Besler, who returned to Kansas City over the weekend to be with his newborn daughter.
As the first-place finisher in Group C, the United States will open the Hexagonal with a colossal showdown against its arch rival. Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will host Mexico on Friday, Nov. 11 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, before traveling to face Costa Rica on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The Hexagonal will be played in a double-round-robin, home-and-away format, concluding in October 2017.
U.S. MNT HEXAGONAL SCHEDULE
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>11/11/2016</strong> |
<strong>vs. Mexico</strong> |
11/15/2016 |
at Costa Rica |
<strong>03/24/2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Honduras</strong> |
03/28/2017 |
at Panama |
<strong>06/09/2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Trinidad and Tobago</strong> |
06/13/2017 |
at Mexico |
<strong>09/01/2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Costa Rica</strong> |
09/05/2017 |
at Honduras |
<strong>10/06/2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Panama</strong> |
10/10/2017 |
at Trinidad and Tobago |
