United States vs. Costa Rica: World Cup qualifying match time, TV, live stream

The United States national soccer team takes on Costa Rica on Friday night in a World Cup qualifying match.

The United States resumes qualification for the 2018 World Cup on Friday night as they play host to Costa Rica in the fifth round of CONCACAF qualifying. The fifth round, commonly known as the ‘Hexagonal’ or ‘Hex’ is a double-round-robin tournament featuring the final six teams in the confederation (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean).

With six matches already in the books, the United States sits in third place in the standings. The after each side plays their ten matches, the top three teams will receive automatic qualification to the World Cup and the fourth-place team will participate in a playoff against the fifth-place team from Asia.

The United States men’s national team has put themselves into quality position for qualification, but a home win today to Costa Rica would go a long way toward solidifying their trip to Russia for the World Cup.

A draw tonight would be an adequate result, but it would give Panama a chance to slip ahead into third place if they were to come out of Mexico with an unlikely win. However they do it, the United States probably needs four points in these next two matches to keep themselves on solid pace for qualification.

The United States will be without a couple of key players due to injury, but expect Bruce Arena to put out his best available lineup in what looks like the most important match the USMNT will play until the World Cup itself. Stars such as Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, and Geoff Cameron will certainly be in the starting lineup.

World Cup Qualifying: United States v. Costa Rica

Red Bull Arena – Harrison, New Jersey
Game Time: 6:55 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
Weather: 69 degrees, mostly sunny

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The United States will travel to Honduras on Tuesday for their eighth qualifying match of the hexagonal round.