The U.S. men’s national team will only be spectators during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. That’s because the USMNT lost 2-1 at Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night in the final match of the hexagonal group stage. After going down 2-0, the U.S. got a goal from Christian Pulisic but couldn’t get the one more it needed.
The loss, plus a winning goal from Panama in the dying seconds against Costa Rica gave the Panamanians the third and final direct spot in the group, eliminating Bruce Arena’s squad. Honduras defeated Mexico to earn the fourth spot.
USA needed just a draw to qualify based on the result of the other CONCACAF games (Honduras 3, Mexico 2; Panama 2, Costa Rica 1) but couldn’t come back from two goals down, ending a shocking qualifying campaign.