Entering Wednesday’s match with Costa Rica, the United States men’s national soccer team had a pretty easy path to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. A win, tie or loss by five goals or fewer would be good enough for the USA to qualify.
The good news for the Americans? They qualified.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 31, 2022
Yes indeed! The #USMNT qualifies for #WorldCup2022 in Qatar. USA back where it should be. pic.twitter.com/W9drWKCZ8B
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) March 31, 2022
What was the bad news? Let’s just say that it wasn’t exactly an overwhelming clinching performance. The American team didn’t come too close to an outright disaster but did use some of its margin for error.
¡Termina el partido y Costa Rica asegura su lugar en el repechaje intercontinental!
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The match is over and Costa Rica punch their ticket to the intercontinental playoff!⏱️ FT 🇨🇷 2 vs 🇺🇸 0#CWCQ pic.twitter.com/83S5xpugI5
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) March 31, 2022
So, if you were hoping that the USMNT would kick the door down and qualify in style after missing out in 2018, a 2-0 loss is probably not the result you were looking for.
The “win” drew a divided reaction. Several USMNT fans on Twitter were stressed out by what took place on the pitch.
There's never a dull day as a USMNT fan.
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) March 31, 2022
USA… What y’all doing #USMNT pic.twitter.com/SHtlGATC6j
— Jacob Seliga 🦚 (@jacob_seliga) March 31, 2022
"yes you want to win but ultimately this is job well done" they say of the us men's national team as it is losing 2-0 to costa rica.
and that's why we're not winning anything of substance. unserious organization.
— Derek Peterson (@dr_petey) March 31, 2022
The USMNT qualifying in a 2-0 defeat is on brand
— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) March 31, 2022
The USA team did the bare minimum to qualify. I want to advance as a soccer country. We literally have guys in Barcelona/Chelsea/Dortmund. Can’t be doing the bare minimum anymore.
— Jimmy Schwartz (@JamesMSchwartz) March 31, 2022
Other observers, though, had a more circumspect attitude. For them, qualifying is the only thing that mattered.
Furthermore, limping into the World Cup doesn’t necessarily mean that the USMNT won’t enjoy any success once it begins.
Meh, in 2001 the #USMNT finished 3rd in WCQ and went on to be a handball away from going to the semifinal of the 2002 World Cup. 🇺🇸⚽️ https://t.co/0LpuMcH5XD
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) March 31, 2022
I guess people forgot the #USMNT’s record in Costa Rica in World Cup Qualifying throughout history. This country has never walked in and come out alive. This result literally doesn’t matter.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) March 31, 2022
The #USMNT are about to qualify for the World Cup and Twitter is freaking out because they're losing away to Costa Rica where they haven't earned a single point since 1985. Never change.
— Ben Wright (@benwright) March 31, 2022
Stay out of my mention with negativity. The USMNT is qualified for the World Cup.
— Jason Davis (@davisjsn) March 31, 2022
This is, of course, a painfully unsatisfying way of qualifying for the World Cup—a flat, mirthless, gassed 2-0 loss to a diluted team. There will be handwringing.
But the #USMNT made it to Qatar because some very young players put in a lot of gutsy performances over 14 games.
— Leander Schaerlaeckens (@LeanderAlphabet) March 31, 2022
#USMNT qualified for the World Cup in a markedly improved CONCACAF (except for Mexico) while rebuilding their pool and system from nuclear ashes. You won't catch me complaining about anything tonight, and anyone who is complaining is missing the point.
— Collin McCollough (@cmccollo) March 31, 2022
The 2022 World Cup is set to begin on November 21 in Qatar. The USMNT is already looking forward to it.
See you in November. 🇺🇸
🗣 @TimHowardGK pic.twitter.com/ZiX4E4JGir
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 31, 2022
After missing out on qualifying four years ago, the Americans will be looking to make up for lost time.
