After the conclusion of matchday 2 last night, there are only two spots left to fill for the quarterfinals of the Gold cup. Six teams have already grabbed six points and can sit back, while Group A and D are waiting for the second team to make it.
The teams who have qualified so far are El Salvador, Canada, USA, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Honduras. The two teams in the best position to still qualify are Mexico and Qatar with four points each. Luckily these two teams will most likely qualify even if they both lose their next game.
In Group A, Trinidad and Tobago is the only team (other than Mexico) with a chance of qualifying but they would not only need to win their next game by a six-goal margin, they would also need Mexico to lose its game to El Salvador. In Group D, Panama is in the exact same predicament. They also need a six-goal margin of victory and for Qatar (currently in second) to lose its next match against Honduras.
I think that Mexico and Qatar will qualify simply because I do not see either of the other two teams winning by six goals. I think Panama has played a good tournament and they have shown why they deserve to be here, but the most they have scored so far in a single game has been 3 goals. Likewise, I think that Trinidad and Tobago have shown that they should not be underestimated but seeing as they have yet to score a single goal so far, I do not see them scoring six against Guatemala.
In Groups B and C, matchday three deals with ranking. Seeing as the top two teams in each have already qualified, it is now a fight for who will finish the group in the top spot. In Group B, first place Canada will take on the USA who are hoping to steal that top spot. In Group C, Costa Rica will be defending its spot against Jamaica.
Photo: Mexico and Qatar, from Shutterstock, made by BERMIX STUDIO
