The United States will not travel to the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing their final World Cup qualifier. The Americans hand their ticket over to Panama, a team they defeated convincingly last week.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sabau
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The United States lost to Trinidad and Tobago in Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Thursday.
The result opened the door for Panama and Honduras to advance towards World Cup qualification from CONCACAF – North and Central America's football confederation. Panama defeated Costa Rica 2-1 to capture their first ever qualification for the World Cup, and Honduras defeated Mexico 3-2 to clinch a spot in the intercontinental playoff spot.
The US needed just a draw in Couva to qualify for the World Cup automatically because their goal difference was superior to both Panama's and Honduras'. Instead, the Americans will not participate in a World Cup for the first time in 1986.
"We have no excuses - we failed today," US coach Bruce Arena, who took over for Jürgen Klinsmann a year ago, told reporters after the game. "We should have walked off this field with at least a point."
The United States fell behind early in the first half after an own goal from defender Omar Gonzalez. Alvin Jones scored a second to give Trinidad and Tobago a 2-0 halftime lead. Christian Pulisic got the US on the scoresheet right after the break, but the Americans failed to add another to get the result they needed.
Honduras will play Australia in the two-legged intercontinental playoff in November.
dv (AP, dpa)
World Cup 2018: Gianluigi Buffon and Christian Pulisic among those missing out
As World Cup qualifying approaches its end, DW tooks a look at who will be watching rather than featuring on TV next summer. A veteran goalkeeper, a US prospect and a Bundesliga favorite are among those who'll miss out.
Image: picture alliance/empics/N. Carson
Gianluigi Buffon, Italy
Gianluigi Buffon's 175th Italy cap will be his last. The 39-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in his side's playoff second leg draw with Sweden but it wasn't enough, as Italy missed out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958 thanks to a first leg loss. Buffon, who won the World Cup in 2006 and will now retire from international football, broke down in tears after the match.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Medina
Christian Pulisic, USA
On one of the most disastrous nights in American footall history, Bruce Arena's USA team lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago to end up second bottom in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. The result means Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic will have to wait at least another four years to make his World Cup debut. In a double blow for the Bundesliga, Hamburg striker Bobby Wood also misses out.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Estrella
Arjen Robben, Netherlands
The Bayern Munich winger is missing out on a second successive international tournament after the Netherlands failed to beat Sweden by the seven goals required to avoid elimination from Group A. “It is not realistic to think we can beat Sweden with a big score,” Robben said pre-match. “People had best leave their calculators at home." He was right and has now retired from international football.
Image: imago/VI Images/M. van Steen
David Alaba, Austria
Bayern Munich's David Alaba is another Bundesliga star who can put his feet up next summer after Austria failed to overcome Serbia and the Republic of Ireland in UEFA qualifying group D. Wales finished above an Austria team that hasn't qualified for a World Cup since 1998.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/SvenSimon
Andriy Yarmolenko, Ukraine
New Borussia Dortmund signing Andriy Yarmolenko won't be in Russia next summer after Ukraine finished third in their qualifying group behind Croatia and Iceland. Despite making an impressive start to his BVB career, the Ukrainian striker, who has scored 32 goals in 73 appearances for his county, couldn't help as his team lost 2-0 to Croatia (pictured) to seal their fate.
Image: Imago/ZumaPress
Alexis Sanchez, Chile
Despite winning two consecutive Copa Americas, Chile have missed out on qualification for the World Cup - leaving Alexis Sanchez at home (along with Arturo Vidal, who retired after Chile failed to qualify). Chile's fate was sealed after a 3-0 defeat to group winners Brazil, who will joined in 2018 by Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia. Is this the end for Chile's golden generation?
Image: Reuters/C. Recine
Salomon Kalou, Ivory Coast
"If we don't make it, we'll only have ourselves to blame," Kalou told DW ahead of the Ivory Coast's key game against Morocco. Defeat would be a "catastrophe" the Hertha Berlin attacker said - and so it proved. In Group C of African qualifying the Ivory Coast lost 2-0 and finished in second (with eight points) behind the Moroccans.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Szwarc
Gareth Bale, Wales
The Real Madrid forward scored three goals as Wales surged to the semifinals of Euro 2016 and is the country’s second highest scorer of all time with 26 goals - but he will not be in Russia next year. With Serbia winning group D, Wales’ match against Republic of Ireland was a must-win - but Ireland's 1-0 victory ended Bale's chances of leading Wales to a World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Image: imago/Sportimage/S. Bellis
Sead Kolasinac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia's hopes of making the World Cup ended despite a 2-1 win against Estonia in the final Group H game. Bosnia finished two points behind second-placed Greece, who also missed out after losing to Croatia in the playoff. Kolasinac, Dzeko and Co. weren't able to repeat their heroic World Cup qualification of 2014 when they topped their qualifying group and finished third in Group F in Brazil.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Fotostand
Naby Keita, Guinea
RB Leipzig's Keita won't feature on the biggest stage next summer, which may please his new club Liverpool. Tunisia topped Group A, narrowly beating out the DR Congo by one point. Guinea though, finished last with three points. Not even one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars could guide Guinea to a World Cup berth.
Image: picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS/M.Chenguang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon
Perhaps the least surprising entry on this list not because of any lack of ability but purely because of Gabon's standing in world football. The African nation won just one game in qualifying and are already out of contention, leaving the Borussia Dortmund man twiddling his thumbs this summer.
Image: imago/PanoramiC
Will Grigg, Northern Ireland
Although not considered a star, Northern Ireland's Will Grigg became one of the biggest names at Euro 2016 when a song about him rang was sung by his own fans and others alike. Northern Ireland's narrow defeat to Switzerland means Grigg and the famous Northern Irish fans won't be making an appearance in Russia this summer, but perhaps the song will still be heard.
