Canada only need a point to qualify for the World Cup finals when hosting Jamaica but will be keen to celebrate in style in front of their own fans. These teams drew 0-0 in Kingston back in October but the Reggae Boyz have struggled when visiting the better CONCACAF teams.
Canada need one more win to book their place at the 2022 World Cup and will hope to do so at the first opportunity when they face Costa Rica. Securing a trip to Qatar looks almost certain with Canada four points clear at the top of the CONCACAF qualifying table.
The United States have never won in Mexico in World Cup qualifying but will be on the verge of qualification for Qatar 2022 if they can buck that trend. Both teams are level on 21 points and are four points clear of fourth-placed Panama with three games to go.
The Canada men’s soccer team rose to 33rd in the FIFA World Rankings in February 2022, which is their highest-ever placing since the rankings were established 30 years ago in 1992. However, to truly appreciate the significance of the current team’s achievement we can look back further using another system: the World Football Elo Ratings.
Sadio Mane’s Senegal will take on Egypt and Mohamed Salah in a Liverpool derby to decide the Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs will be battle-hardened after coming through a tougher route to the final but the Lions of Teranga have been visually more impressive.
Cameroon will hope home advantage gives them the edge when they face fellow former Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt in the second semi-final on Thursday. Both teams know what it takes to go all the way in this tournament but Cameroon have the added incentive of lifting the trophy on home soil.
Canada are enjoying a dream international break and can move even closer to qualifying for this year’s World Cup by winning in El Salvador. The Canucks are coming off triumphs over Honduras and the USA, which made it five consecutive victories for the group table toppers.
USA are under fire and under pressure after losing to Canada, but should get their World Cup campaign back on track when entertaining Honduras. Los Catrachos are bottom of the CONCACAF group after tasting defeat in six straight qualifiers and failing to score in the last couple.
Senegal will be looking to reach a second successive Africa Cup of Nations final when they face Burkina Faso. Sadio Mane and Co began the tournament as favourites in the outright betting and remain on course to justify their status after cruising through to the last four.
Canada and USA are both bang on course to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar and a draw in Hamilton may satisfy both teams. With three automatic places up for grabs, Mexico are just behind but Panama crucially lost ground due to Thursday’s defeat at Costa Rica.
USA were held to a goalless draw by El Salvador in September’s opening round of World Cup qualifiers but should ease through the return fixture in Columbus. The Stars and Stripes have won their last three home matches, while La Selecta have tasted defeat in a trio of away games.
Senegal and Guinea were always expected to advance from Africa Cup of Nations Group B and both head into this contest with a win on the board. Liverpool stars Sadio Mane and Naby Keita will be on opposing teams for a change in Bafoussam, but the former has a better supporting cast on paper.
Cameroon survived a scare to win their Africa Cup of Nations opener and the hosts can build on that by beating Ethiopia in Group A. The Walias began as outsiders to qualify from this pool and have an even bigger mountain to climb after kicking off with a defeat.
Tunisia and Mali drew 1-1 during the pool stage of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and are backed to share the spoils again in Cameroon. With Gambia and Mauritania expected to merely make up the numbers in Group F, another stalemate would surely suit both sides.