It is the final stretch of CONCACAF Qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With Canada securing a spot, only two direct qualification spots are left. Mexico and USA are tied for second place, with Costa Rica and Panama breathing down their necks. However, it all should be resolved on Sunday. Mexico is expected to confirm their place against lowly Honduras, while the USMNT has a pivotal game versus Panama to come back to the World Cup. With so much riding on this game, we look at three reasons why the USMNT will take down Panama and secure World Cup qualification.

Reasons to back the USMNT to take down Panama 

They have a better squad 

In all honesty, the USMNT should not be in this position. They have made seven out of the last eight World Cups and missed the last World Cup in Russia due to a complete meltdown against Trinidad and Tobago. That should not happen this year and they have a unique opportunity to make sure they are qualified on Sunday, rather than leaving it for the last match against Costa Rica. The main reason why they should win is the strength of their squad, especially compared to Panama.

Now, Panama is not to be underestimated, as they have a distinct style of play and, also, they have some players playing in Europe. However, they should not match the USMNT in any sort of way.

The Americans do have an issue on the right, as Sergino Dest is out due to an injury. Regardless of that, their World Cup qualification should be secured, if through nothing then through the sheer individual quality that coach Gregg Berhalter has in his ranks. Christian Pulisic is probably the biggest name, but besides him, there is a ton of quality. Gio Reyna is there from BVB, just like Ricardo Pepi, who has scored three in 10 appearances for the USMNT. Young gun Tyler Adams is holding down the midfield and, in goal, Manchester City keeper Zack Steffen is sure to hold down the attacks from the Panama players.

They have revenge on their minds 

In October 2021, Panama and the United States met in Panama City in a game that was supposed to set the tone for the rest of the qualification. At that point, Panama was dying to get back into things, as their first four games yielded one loss, one win, and two draws. With two wins and two draws, the USMNT had an opportunity to hit the Panama team with one more loss and basically get them out of the race. Panama ended up winning with a 54th-minute winner by Nashville SC's Godoy, and they were back in contention.

Now, the USMNT has a chance to really get the Panama national team out of contention for the World Cup, something they would not have needed to do if they pulled off a win in that October matchup.

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Things should really be different now. The Americans are playing on home soil, where they are undefeated and dropped just two points, in a 1-1 draw to Canada. Also, they have the motivation of that revenge for that October defeat.

One more motive could be the situation from 2018. In the CONCACAF Qualification for the 2018 World Cup, it was a key 1-1 draw that was one of the deciding factors for the US missing out on a spot for the competition. Of course, other results contributed, but dropping two points there was the difference between making the tournament and staying home for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

They need to avoid embarrassment 

Speaking about that 2018 World Cup omission for the USMNT, it was beyond embarrassing. It was not only that the mighty USA missed the World Cup, but it was the terrible manner in which they did it. They dropped points high and wide, including that 1-1 draw in Panama City, and ended the campaign losing to Trinidad and Tobago away from home. For Trinidad and Tobago, it was only the second win, and it was a nail in the coffin for the USMNT. Even worse than that, Panama secured an 88th-minute winner against Costa Rica, completing a comeback to knock the Americans out of any contention for the 2018 World Cup.

Now, once again, everything is in the hands of the USMNT. They have a stadium full of supporters, a nation watching them closely, and a somewhat overmatched opponent. Anything other than a win would be embarrassing for the US, and some of the players on this squad know the feeling all too well.

One of the leaders of this squad, Pulisic, scored the lone goal against Trinidad and Tobago, so he should really hammer it out to his teammates how important a win is in this pivotal match. If they do not get the win, they still have a shot versus Costa Rica, but they can end the job here Sunday.