Mexico Battles U.S. to Keep Hopes of World Cup Alive

Mexico, U.S. and other teams play for a ticket to the World Cup in Brazil.

ByABC News
September 10, 2013, 10:28 AM
U.S. captain Clinton Dempsey (L) tries to avoid a Costa Rican defender during Friday's World Cup qualifiers match in San Jose. On Tuesday the U.S. will try to rebound from defeat at the hands of the Ticos as it faces Mexico, in Columbus, Ohio. A victory would almost seal a spot for the U.S. in the next World Cup.
U.S. captain Clinton Dempsey (L) tries to avoid a Costa Rican defender during Friday's World Cup qualifiers match in San Jose. On Tuesday the U.S. will try to rebound from defeat at the hands of the Ticos as it faces Mexico, in Columbus, Ohio. A victory would almost seal a spot for the U.S. in the next World Cup.
Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images

Sept 10, 2013— -- The stage is set for some of the World Cup qualifiers most entertaining games of the year. Several teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are at the brink of elimination, while others are just a short step from a ticket to Brazil.

What happens in today’s matchups will determine whether some nations will travel or stay home next summer. Here are today’s most exciting games:

United States vs. Mexico (7:00 p.m. ET on Unimás, http://www.univisiondeportes.com, and ESPN)

After a crushing 1-2 defeat against Honduras at the Estadio Azteca last Friday, El Tri is hard-pressed to beat the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio. On Saturday, the Mexican Federation fired coach “Chepo” Acosta, and now Mexico, currently ranked fourth in CONCACAF’s hexagonal, is counting on a rather nervous Luis Fernando Tena – a manager who led the youth divisions to the gold medal in London 2012 -- to perform a miracle that allows the national squad to secure a direct ticket to the World Cup. For that to happen, El Tri must win the three remaining games and pray for other favorable results. Otherwise El Tri will have to play New Zealand for a spot in the World Cup.

Mexico faces a strong U.S. team that is trying to regain its footing after losing 3-1 to Costa Rica. The U.S. has won all previous meetings in Columbus, but the squad may be a bit shaky since starters Altidore, Besler, and Cameron will be unavailable due to yellow card accumulation.

Honduras vs. Panamá (8:50 p.m. ET on beIN SPORT or watch online here)

Many U.S. and Mexican fans are set to be paying attention to what goes on in Honduras. A victory for the visiting team could complicate matters for El Tri, and, at the same time, secure the U.S. presence in Brazil.

Last Friday, Honduras became the second team in World Cup qualifying history to beat Mexico at the Estadio Azteca (Costa Rica defeated Mexico in June, 2001, in a match known as the “Aztecazo”). The team is confident after their historic win, and they are aware that they must win all their remaining games if they don’t want to depend on any other results.

Panama, in the meanwhile, needs to earn some away points to make up for their dull 0-0 draw against Jamaica last Friday. The canaleños are just one point behind Mexico, and if they win their remaining games they could displace El Tri and leave Mexico out of the World Cup, something that hasn’t happened since 1982.

Uruguay vs. Colombia (5:50 p.m. ET on beIN SPORT or watch online here)

Liverpool’s Luis Suárez and PSG’s Edinson Cavani face off against Monaco’s Radamel Falcao García and James Rodríguez: The stage is set for a strikers’ match with lots of goals. Uruguay is finally regaining its step in the South American qualifiers, and Colombia is just one point away from securing a spot in next year’s World Cup. Uruguay will miss its two central defenders, Diego Lugano and Diego Godín, who are suspended for yellow card accumulation, and Colombia won’t be able to count with left-back Pablo Armero. Expect a hard-fought game with lots of excitement.

Venezuela vs. Peru (7:55 p.m. ET on beIN SPORT en español or watch online here)