COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. men’s national soccer team is probably going to win its 2018 World Cup qualifying match Tuesday against Guatemala. The Americans, after all, have not lost a home qualifier in 15 years and never lost a match of any kind in 10 visits to Mapfre Stadium, home to MLS’s Columbus Crew.
However, given the state of affairs, both in recent days and over eight months, nothing should be taken for granted.
With a 2-0 away defeat to the Guatemalans on Friday, the Americans put themselves into an uncomfortable position at the midway point of what should have been a carefree semifinal-round quartet.