Fans of the San Jose Earthquakes should keep an eye on this week’s final FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Here are the scenarios for the home nation United States as well as national teams represented by Quakes players.
United States of America
While the Earthquakes don’t currently have any players competing with the United States, of course the team has rooting interest in its own nation. Team USA is coming off two good results – a scoreless draw at Mexico and a 5-1 win vs. Panama – to head into the final matchday on the brink of qualification. The U.S. is currently in second place with a 7-2-4 record and +13 goal-differential, three points ahead of fourth-place Costa Rica. Three teams earn automatic qualification with the fourth-place team competing in an inter-confederation playoff against the top team from the Oceanic region, which will either be New Zealand or the Solomon Islands.
To finish top three and punch their ticket, the USA needs a win, draw or loss by five goals or less against Costa Rica on Wednesday. Kickoff is 6:05 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on Paramount+, Peacock and Universo.
Costa Rica
Quakes defender Francisco Calvo and Costa Rica are in a decent spot moving forward. They can finish no worse than fourth in Concacaf and even maintain an outside shot of jumping Mexico or the United States (or both) but would need a significantly lopsided win vs. the U.S. and/or a loss by Mexico vs. El Salvador on Wednesday to even have a chance. As mentioned previously, a fourth-place finish would see Costa Rica play in a single-game playoff vs. New Zealand or the Solomon Islands in Qatar in June.
Peru
Earthquakes fullback Marcos Lopez and Peru have been one of the surprise teams in South America’s Conmebol. While four teams in Conmebol earn automatic qualification, Peru is currently in fifth place and would be slated to compete in an inter-confederation playoff should they remain in that position after Tuesday’s home match vs. Paraguay. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT and the match can be watched on FuboTV.
Peru maintains a one-point advantage over Colombia and a two-point lead over Chile. A win by Peru guarantees them a fifth-place finish, while a draw or a loss would require both Colombia (at Venezuela) and Chile (vs. Uruguay) to both drop points as well.
Should Peru finish in fifth, they would play a team from Asia, which – as it stands – would be either Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq or Lebanon in an inter-confederation playoff in Qatar in June.