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CONCACAF Hex schedule finalized as USMNT opens against Mexico

Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Six teams have advanced to the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF 2018 World Cup Qualifying, and it begins with a bang as several key matches headline the early schedule.

Matchday 1 features the home leg of the clash everyone wants to see as Mexico visits the U.S. Men’s National Team on Nov. 11. The two sides last faced off in October of 2015 in the playoff match for the Confederations Cup, which El Tri won 3-2 after extra time.

There’s no break on matchday 2 for the USMNT, as they face likely their second strongest opponent with a visit to Costa Rica on Nov. 15. The USMNT defeated Costa Rica, 4-0, in the Copa America this past summer.

The schedule then lightens up with a visit from Honduras, a trip to Panama, and then another visit from Trinidad and Tobago, whom the USMNT defeated, 4-0, to win their semifinal group, before it all repeats with the locations reversed.

The USMNT faces the away leg against El Tri on June 13th, 2017 before welcoming Costa Rica on September 1st, 2017. The Americans then close out with a run of three matches, visiting Hondruas, welcoming Panama, and finally travelling to Trinidad and Tobago on October 10th, 2017 with hopes of securing their Russia 2018 qualification.

Here’s a closer look at the full Hexagonal round schedule:

MATCHDAY 1 – NOVEMBER 11TH, 2016

  • USMNT vs. Mexico
  • Honduras vs. Panama
  • Trinidad & Tobago vs. Costa Rica

MATCHDAY 2 – NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

  • Costa Rica vs. USMNT
  • Panama vs. Mexico
  • Honduras vs. Trinidad & Tobago

MATCHDAY 3 – MARCH 24TH, 2017

  • USMNT vs. Honduras
  • Trinidad & Tobago vs. Panama
  • Mexico vs. Costa Rica

MATCHDAY 4 – MARCH 28TH, 2017

  • Panama vs. USMNT
  • Honduras vs. Costa Rica
  • Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico

MATCHDAY 5 – JUNE 9TH, 2017

  • USMNT vs. Trinidad & Tobago
  • Costa Rica vs. Panama
  • Mexico vs. Honduras

MATCHDAY 6 – JUNE 13TH, 2017

  • Mexico vs. USMNT
  • Panama vs. Honduras
  • Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago

MATCHDAY 7 – SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2017

  • USMNT vs. Costa Rica
  • Mexico vs. Panama
  • Trinidad & Tobago vs. Honduras

MATCHDAY 8 – SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2017

  • Honduras vs. USMNT
  • Panama vs. Trinidad & Tobago
  • Costa Rica vs. Mexico

MATCHDAY 9 – OCTOBER 6TH, 2017

  • USMNT vs. Panama
  • Costa Rica vs. Honduras
  • Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago

MATCHDAY 10 – OCTOBER 10TH, 2017

  • Trinidad & Tobago vs. USMNT
  • Panama vs. Costa Rica
  • Honduras vs. Mexico

What do you think of the USMNT schedule? How will the team fare in the Hex? If you were U.S. Soccer, what stadiums would you place each home match in?

Share your thoughts below

Comments

  1. This is going to be very difficult and has many traps. Costa Rica and Mexico are good. US could start out 0-2. They can’t though because a road slip up, or Honduras (with Pinto) loss, and they are in trouble. No cheap draws allowed type trouble.

    They can’t afford the periods of terrible they have had in the past.

    Reply
    • “They can’t afford the periods of terrible they have had in the past.”

      How is this hex any different from any of the last five? Every single one of them has been a challenge where qualification seemingly teetered on the brink, but we always pulled it out. I don’t see how this will be any different, in fact, I expect we’ll be better than in the past.

      Reply
  2. Off topic but has anyone seen this Twitter beef going on between Wynalda and Bedoya? I actually had to side with Wynalda on this one…

    Reply
    • I saw it. I actually like Wynalda and the fact he is opinionated. However, I have to disagree with him on this one. I have been watching the USMNT since right before he broke in (when I could catch it as a kid — it was really hard circa 1990/1991/1992) .

      However, he is being prick about this today: “Focus on “better” not bitter. I had my opinions of your play- I did not know that you had zero class…”

      I like Wynalda, but there is a reason why he is ostracized by MLS and other parts of US Soccer (unfortunately).

      Reply
      • Even Jeff Carlisle went in on Wynalda last night about his well documented dislike of Bedoya. Wynalda went off on Bedoya earlier in a Philly.com article about 3 weeks ago. He even says that he thinks that he does even belong on the national team. Then again, he is paid for his opinion.

      • I thought that was a perfectly okay response after Bedoya brought up Harkes sleeping with his wife. That was totally uncalled for. And all because Wynalda responded to a Twitter followers question about why Bedoya seems to be an automatic starter? Its ridiculous that Bedoya couldn’t handle a tv analyst responding to a question that was basically Wynalda saying I don’t know I don’t think hes good either.

    • I’d have liked to see the US start off IN Mexico, rather than having to go there in June … at least that will be mid-week, so they’ll probably have it in the evening to get better TV ratings (and money).

      Obviously, the Mexico game is in Columbus. I think the others will be Colorado (gotta play Costa Rica there again just for spite), along with 3 of these 4 – Seattle, Salt Lake City, Boston, and Nashville … though I’d love Charlotte or Raleigh (I just really can’t imagine it).

      Reply
  3. One concern about playing Mexico and CR in November is that some MLS players will still be taking part in the playoffs, such as MB, Jozy, Bedoya, Howard, Klestjan. Even if MLS takes an international break, how many of those coaches will be happy about their players putting in extra shifts with USMNT?

    On the plus side, all players (MLS, euro, and MX) should all be game fit in November (as opposed to, say, playing in March). So I guess this should work out.

    In the end, the USMNT only has one gear and doesn’t know how to half-ass games, even if we could help ourselves (or screw rivals, like keeping Mexico out of WC2014…).

    Reply
    • HEX takes precedence over the playoffs – even MLS coaches will gladly agree on that!

      getting Mexico early is great – they look terrible post-Copa! fans are booing them already, I kinda wish we were getting Azteca out of the way in November.

      Reply
      • Dunno is MLS coaches will gladly agree HEX takes precedence over the playoffs! I am pretty sure coaches will put the precedence of winning a title and keeping their job over the HEX.

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