Hexagonal (CONCACAF)

File:Mapfre-stadium-hosts-USA-Mexico 11-11-2016.JPG{{see also|Mexico–United States soccer rivalry}}

The United States and Mexico were the most successful teams in the Hexagonal, with Mexico qualifying for every World Cup since 1994. Indeed, the Mexico–United States soccer rivalry has been hotly contested during the Hexagonal. Matches between the two opponents hosted by Mexico often sell out the 100,000 seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City; matches hosted in the United States are often held in cold northern cities such as Columbus, Ohio.

Episodes of this rivalry during Hexagonal matchdays include the Dos a Cero, a streak of four consecutive 2–0 victories for the United States at the Columbus Crew Stadium between 2001 and 2013.{{cite web |last1=Longshore |first1=Jason |title=The History of Dos a Cero |url=https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/11/9/13524068/the-history-of-dos-a-cero |website=Stars and Stripes FC |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=9 November 2016}}{{Cite web |last=ColumbusCrew.com |title=USMNT History of "Dos a Cero" {{!}} Columbus Crew |url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/usmnt-history-dos-cero |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ColumbusCrew.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Cesar |last2=Gomez |first2=Eric |date=2022-06-16 |title=The biggest Dos a Cero turns 20: How the U.S. win over Mexico at the 2002 World Cup forever altered the rivalry |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37629398/how-us-win-mexico-2002-world-cup-forever-altered-rivalry |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The streak ended on November 11, 2016 as the Mexicans defeated the Americans 1–2.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Martin |title=Mexico stuns U.S. with 2-1 win in World Cup qualifier |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2016/11/11/mexico-stuns-us-2-1-world-cup-qualifier/93681500/ |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=USA Today |date=11 November 2016}}

Another noteworthy event occurred on 15 October 2013, the final matchday of the Hexagonal on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Mexicans were out of the World Cup as they were losing against Costa Rica in San José and Panama were defeating the Americans, both matches by 2–1. However, during stoppage time, Graham Zusi and Aron Jóhannsson scored for the United States, resulting in an American victory by 3–2, which helped Mexico qualify to the intercontinental play-off series against New Zealand.{{cite news |last1=Borden |first1=Sam |title=U.S. Ends Panama’s World Cup Run and Saves Mexico |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/sports/soccer/us-ends-panamas-world-cup-run-and-saves-mexico.html |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=15 October 2013}} The United States national team Twitter account mocked the Mexicans by tweeting #YoureWelcomeMexico and tagging their Mexican counterparts' profile.{{cite web |title=U.S. Soccer MNT on Twitter: "#YoureWelcomeMexico @miseleccionmx" |url=https://twitter.com/usmnt/status/390318699317456896 |website=Twitter |language=en}} Because of the significance of his goal, Zusi received recognition from some Mexican fans as "a saint".{{cite news |title=Zusi, reconocido por aficionados del Tri como 'santo' |url=https://www.record.com.mx/empelotados/zusi-reconocido-por-aficionados-del-tri-como-santo |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=Récord |date=18 October 2013 |language=es}} Zusi also revealed that Mexican player Marco Fabián thanked him for the goal.{{cite news |title=Graham Zusi reveló que Marco Fabián le agradeció el pase de México a Brasil 2014 |url=https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-futbol-nacional-seleccion-mexicana/graham-zusi-revelo-que-marco-fabian-le-agradecio-el-pase |access-date=3 April 2021 |work=Récord |date=17 May 2020 |language=es}}

{{main|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

The first hexagonal round was played in 1997, between 2 March and 16 November. Mexico topped the round robin undefeated, being the only team to do so.{{cite news|last1=Cortés|first1=José Antonio|title=El Hexagonal no es un bombón|url=http://espndeportes.espn.com/news/nota?id=1719068|accessdate=20 November 2016|work=ESPN Deportes|date=6 February 2013}} Jamaica qualified to their first (and so far, only) FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|title=Jamaican footballing names that should not be forgotten|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/football/Jamaican-footballing-names-that-should-not-be-forgotten_15176499|accessdate=20 November 2016|work=The Jamaica Observer|date=2 October 2013}} It was Canada's only participation in the hexagonal round, and their last appearance at the final stage of a FIFA World Cup qualification until 2022, in which he qualified for the tournament after 36 years.{{cite web|last1=Hernandez|first1=Dan|title=Why Canada Will Make the Hex This Time|url=http://www.wakingthered.com/2015/11/21/9775226/why-canada-will-make-the-hex-this-time-world-cup-qualifiers-russia-2018-julian-de-guzman|website=Waking the Red|accessdate=20 November 2016|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210072959/https://www.wakingthered.com/2015/11/21/9775226/why-canada-will-make-the-hex-this-time-world-cup-qualifiers-russia-2018-julian-de-guzman|url-status=dead}}

{{:1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round|show_matches=yes}}

{{Main|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round}}

The second edition of The Hex was played in 2001, between 28 February and 11 November. It was topped by Costa Rica, who totaled a record 23 points.{{cite news|title=Solo un Aztecazo|url=http://wvw.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2009/febrero/09/ovacion1857229.html|accessdate=20 November 2016|work=Al Día|date=9 February 2009}} The Costa Ricans marked the first defeat Mexico ever had at a World Cup qualification match at home soil, in a match known as El Aztecazo.{{cite news|title=Costa Rica, autor del primer 'Aztecazo' de la historia|url=http://www.record.com.mx/futbol-noticias-del-tri/costa-rica-autor-del-primer-aztecazo-de-la-historia|accessdate=20 November 2016|work=Récord|date=5 February 2016}}

{{:2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round|show_matches=yes}}

{{main|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

{{2006 FIFA World Cup qualification - CONCACAF fourth round|expanded=yes|fixtures=yes}}

• United States finished ahead of Mexico based on results between tied teams which were the first tiebreaker.
• Mexico, United States and Costa Rica directly advanced to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
• Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the AFC-CONCACAF play-off, where they would defeat Bahrain 2–1 on aggregate to advance to the World Cup.

{{main|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

The six teams that reached the fourth round formed one double-round-robin, home-and-away group nicknamed the "Hexagonal." The top three teams qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The fourth place team qualified for a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL.

{{:2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

{{main|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

In the fourth round, the three group winners and three runners-up from the third round competed in a double round robin, including a home and away match against the other five teams between 6 February and 15 October 2013. The draw for 'The Hex' was conducted by FIFA on 7 November 2012.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1194728/world-cup-qualifying----draw-set-for-concacaf-'hex'-round?cc=5901 |title=World Cup qualifying - draw set for CONCACAF 'hex' round - ESPN FC |publisher=ESPN |date=19 Oct 2012 |access-date=6 Nov 2012 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001039/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1194728/world-cup-qualifying----draw-set-for-concacaf-%27hex%27-round?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}

The top three teams qualified directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, while the fourth-placed team advanced to a home-away series against the winner of Oceania, which ended up being New Zealand. Teams are ranked first by total points in all games, then, if tied, by best goal differential in all games, then by total goals in all games. If still tied, the same criteria are applied to games among the tied teams (including head-to-head away goals scored).

{{:2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round}}

{{Main|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fifth round}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fifth round|transcludesection=Standings|show_matches=yes}}

• Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama qualified directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Honduras advanced to the CONCACAF–AFC playoff; they would be defeated by Australia 3–1 on aggregate.
• The United States failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the Hexagonal was introduced; they had qualified for every World Cup between 1990 and 2014.

The Hexagonal was initially the top-seeded round in the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup,{{cite web |title=Concacaf Announces Format for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Confederation Qualifiers |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/world-cup-qualifying-men/article/concacaf-announces-format-for-the-2022-fifa-world-cup-confederation-qualifiers |website=Concacaf |date=10 July 2019}} but, following FIFA's decision on 25 June 2020 to postpone the September international window due to the COVID-19 pandemic (except UEFA), CONCACAF noted that "The challenges presented by postponements to the football calendar, and the incomplete FIFA rankings cycle in our confederation, means our current World Cup qualifying process has been compromised and will be changed."{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2020-06-25 |title=CONCACAF confirms 2022 World Cup qualifying will change - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/concacaf-confirms-that-2022-world-cup-qualifying-is-to-change-but-no-details-yet-1.1489562 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=TSN |language=en}} The confederation eventually announced on 27 July its new qualifying format for the World Cup, replacing the Hexagonal with an eight-team final round,{{Cite web |date=2021-02-18 |title=New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/article/new-concacaf-qualifiers-announced-for-regional-qualification-to-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Concacaf |language=en}} dubbed the Octagonal. FIFA subsequently announced that a January–February window will be used for all confederations except UEFA.{{Cite web |last=Dunbar |first=Graham |date=2020-08-18 |title=FIFA creates new national-team game dates to cut backlog |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-international-soccer-soccer-world-cup-sports-europe-11e5bcd25f26ef0f7b4872bdedeaa013 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=AP News |language=en-US}}

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Canada, the United States, and Mexico automatically qualified as co-hosts, so they will not participate in qualifiers for the final tournament, which will be expanded to 48 teams. The number of places allocated to CONCACAF for the 2026 tournament has been increased from three and a half to six including the hosts, meaning three non-hosting CONCACAF teams will earn their berths in the final tournament from the CONCACAF qualifiers, along with two intercontinental play-off berths (one for each confederation except UEFA and one additional berth as CONCACAF is the host confederation).

;Notes

{{legend|gold|Team finished as leaders and qualified to the FIFA World Cup}}

{{legend|#CEF6CE|Team finished as second or third place and qualified to the FIFA World Cup}}

{{legend|#CEE3F6|Team finished as fourth place and qualified to the FIFA World Cup after winning an intercontinental play-off}}

{{legend|#F6E3CE| Team finished as fourth place and failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after losing an intercontinental play-off}}

{{legend|#F6CECE|Team finished as fourth place and did not qualify to the FIFA World Cup, as there was no intercontinental play-off slot for the tournament}}

3 points per win, 1 point per draw and 0 points per loss.

• Most appearances: {{fb|CRC}}, {{fb|MEX}} and {{fb|USA}}: 6.
• Most times qualified to FIFA World Cup: {{fb|MEX}}: 6.
• Winners:
• {{fb|USA}}: 3 (2006, 2010, 2014).
• {{fb|MEX}}: 2 (1998, 2018).
• {{fb|CRC}}: 1 (2002).
• Most points: {{fb|USA}}, 110.
• Most points home: {{fb|USA}}, 75.
• Most points away: {{fb|MEX}}, 36.
• Most won matches: {{fb|USA}}, 32.
• Most won matches home: {{fb|USA}}, 24.
• Most won matches away: {{fb|CRC}}, {{fb|MEX}} and {{fb|USA}}, 8.
• Most drawn matches: {{fb|MEX}}, 18.
• Most drawn matches home: {{fb|CRC}}, {{fb|JAM}} and {{fb|PAN}}, 7.
• Most drawn matches away: {{fb|MEX}}, 12.
• Most lost matches: {{fb|TRI}}, 26.
• Most lost matches home: {{fb|TRI}}, 9.
• Most lost matches away: {{fb|TRI}}, 17.
• Most goals scored: {{fb|MEX}}, 100.
• Most goals scored home: {{fb|MEX}}, 70.
• Most goals scored away: {{fb|USA}}, 33.
• Most won matches in a tournament: {{fb|CRC}} (7 in 2002), {{fb|MEX}} (7 in 2006) and {{fb|USA}} (7 in 2006, 2014).
• Fewest won matches in a tournament: {{fb|PAN}} (0 in 2006) and {{fb|JAM}} (0 in 2014).
• Most drawn matches in a tournament: {{fb|MEX}}, 6 (1998).
• Fewest drawn matches in a tournament: {{fb|TRI}}, 0 (2018).
• Most lost matches in a tournament: {{fb|PAN}}, 8 (2006).
• Fewest lost matches in a tournament: {{fb|MEX}}, 0 (1998).
• Most points in a tournament: {{fb|CRC}}, 23 (2002).
• Fewest points in a tournament: {{fb|PAN}}, 2 (2006).
• Most goals scored in a tournament: {{fb|MEX}}, 23 (1998).
• Fewest goals scored in a tournament: {{fb|PAN}}, 4 (2006).
• Most goals covered in a tournament: {{fb|TRI}}, 22 (2010).
• Fewest goals covered in a tournament: {{fb|USA}}, 6 (2006).
• Best goal difference in a tournament: {{fb|MEX}}, +16 (1998).
• Worst goal difference in a tournament: {{fb|PAN}}, -17 (2006).
• Best result: {{fb|MEX}} 6–0 {{fb|JAM}} (1998) and {{fb|USA}} 6–0 {{fb|HON|1949}} (2018).
• Best result home: {{fb|MEX}} 6–0 {{fb|JAM}} (1998) and {{fb|USA}} 6–0 {{fb|HON|1949}} (2018).
• Best result away: {{fb|CAN}} 0–3 {{fb|USA}} (1998), {{fb|PAN}} 0–3 {{fb|USA}} (2006) and {{fb|CRC}} 0–3 {{fb|MEX}} (2010).

• Top scorer: {{flagicon|Honduras|1949}} Carlos Pavon, 12.
• Top scorer in a tournament: {{flagicon|Mexico}} Carlos Hermosillo, 8 (1998).
• Hattricks and pokers:

{{reflist|30em }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hexagonal (Concacaf)}}

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