The United States Men’s National Team is in Couva, on the island of Trinidad, preparing for tomorrow night’s final World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago. The USMNT is currently sitting third in the group standings, but with Panama and Honduras within striking distance, getting at least a draw remains crucial to ensure safe passage to next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
So it’s disconcerting to see the images coming out of today’s training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, site of tomorrow’s match:
You can’t get there from here! #usmnt pic.twitter.com/jktDADOVSN
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
Heavy rains here in Trinidad the last few days, and part of the Ato Boldon Stadium is flooded. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/mJpJQeV5RW
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
Here’s the view of the other end of the Ato Boldon Stadium. Lot of work to do to make this field playable. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/xHdIwVV3yQ
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
This piece of equipment will be working overtime. Yes that’s one of the corner flags to the left. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/YCbyCxqk6m
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
#usmnt now resorting to practicing behind the goal, probably so the field doesn’t get torn up. pic.twitter.com/5sLSfOK1f0
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
This is the ultimate in CONCACAF soccer, really, and the kind of thing that UEFA and CONMEBOL teams generally don’t have to deal with, even if their overall qualifying format is more difficult. It’s hard to imagine the field being anything close to quality by tomorrow night, especially with a few isolated storms in the forecast before then.
Overheard along the #usmnt sideline. “If it rains again we have no chance.”
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
Of course, the USMNT does have Christian Pulisic, and if anyone’s capable of walking, running, and scoring on water, it’s him.
First 2 #USMNT players on the field are Graham Zusi (walked across the moat barefoot) and Christian Pulisic (carried over by a staffer) 😂 pic.twitter.com/amDHkMrzkQ
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2017
Bruce Arena will likely have plenty to say on the field conditions at a stadium that doesn’t normally host national team matches. The traditional stadium, in Port of Spain, has issues of its own:
Official reason for playing game at Ato Boldon Stadium & not Hasely Crawford Stadium is due to problems w/lighting system at HCS. #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
It’s important to note, of course, that the United States has benefited from situations not entirely dissimilar in the past; the Snow Clasico victory over Costa Rica in Denver being a memorable example. But if the field is indeed unplayable, and CONCACAF wants them to play anyway, that could present an interesting dilemma, and one both federations are apparently contemplating:
A fair question,but I don’t want to speculate at this point. US Soccer is conferring w/their TTFF counterparts about how to proceed. #usmnt https://t.co/TEIWn5Azk4
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
As it stands, the United States qualifies automatically with a win. A draw would also likely mean automatic qualification, thanks to goal differential.
A loss, though, brings fourth place (and a playoff against Syria or Australia for the 32nd World Cup place) or even fifth place (out of the World Cup) into play. And while a loss against last place Trinidad and Tobago is unlikely in most scenarios, playing on a field that prevents real, actual soccer from being played is probably one of those scenarios, and it could bring a weird result into play.
[Featured image: Jeffrey Carlisle]
