Are the USMNT & Canada on track to qualify for the World Cup? Evaluating the first WCQ window

Sep 09, 2021, 02:38 PM

Relief for US fans, joy for Canada fans! Both teams are leaving the first World Cup Qualifying window with 5 points; are both teams in good shape to make the World Cup?

For the USMNT, we discuss which players have earned starting spots going forward and the tough decisions Gregg Berhalter has to make with Sergino Dest and John Brooks. 

For Canada, it might be too early to celebrate, but it's definitely not too early to praise a great first qualifying window. We explain why this looks like a group capable of making the World Cup and why we'll learn very quickly in October how good this team is. 

1:35 - The MLS pipeline showed up for the US and Canada in the wins

4:09 - Celebrating Ricardo Pepi’s huge night

7:19 - Gregg Berhalter got it right with the subs

9:40 - The US played without fear in the second half

11:59 - Was this a good window for the USMNT?

19:03 - Brenden Aaronson is breaking out, is he a locked-in starter?

22:12 - Sebastian Lletget and Cristian Roldan had great games

27:48 - Mark McKenzie had a bounce-back game

33:09 - Should Sergino Dest be benched to start the next round of qualifiers?

37:08 - Has Matt Turner claimed the No.1 GK job for the national team?

40:56 - Canada blows out El Salvador in impressive win 

43:45 - This Canada group looks like a World Cup team

50:45 - Evaluating Canada’s chances to qualify

53:41 - We’re going to learn a lot about Canada when they play Mexico on Oct. 7

1:00:43 - Is Canada satisfied coming out of this window? What do they need to improve on in October? 

1:03:43 - How confident are you in the USMNT and Gregg Berhalter going forward?