USA vs. Panama Live Stream: Viewing Info and Predictions for World Cup Qualifier

The USMNT takes on Panama on U.S. soil on Tuesday night with hopes of adding more firepower to its World Cup qualifying bid.

America last saw its hopeful soccer team in the United States when the club held off the Costa Ricans 1-0 in Colorado.

Last time out the Americans won an extra-time thriller in Kingston, giving the nation its first World Cup qualifying win ever on Jamaican soil.

Those two impressive wins earned the team six of the seven points they accumulated over the past three games after dropping their first qualifying contest to Honduras back in February.

The seventh and final point was attained after earning an unprecedented draw in Mexico.

Needless to say, the Americans are rolling and could distance themselves from Panama—currently in fourth place with six points—by earning three points in front of their home fans on Tuesday night.

Here’s a look at some viewing information, latest news and a prediction for this important matchup.

 

When: Tuesday, June 11 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch ESPN (Cable provider login required); Blacked out on ESPN3

Missing Pieces

The United States will be without midfielders Jermaine Jones and Graham Zusi against the Panamanians, according to Goal.com. Jones is recovering from a concussion sustained in the club’s fixture against Jamaica and Zusi will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation.

Zusi scored the only goal during the Americans’ January 2012 victory over Panama.

Alternately, Panama do not have star striker Blas Perez due to medical reasons, according to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl:

While Perez is the club’s best attacker, the USMNT isn’t looking past the other Los Canaleros athletes.

“We all know that Blas Perez is kind of the focal point of their attack, but they have a lot more talent too other than him,” U.S. defender Matt Belser said, according to Zac Lee Rigg of Goal.com (via Yahoo! Sports).  

Prediction

The implications of this one are pretty significant. With seven points, the United States is currently in a three-way deadlock with Costa Rica and Mexico atop the standings. Panama trails close behind the pack with six points.

Winning in Seattle on Tuesday night could solidify the chance of a trip to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The top three clubs will earn automatic bids so it isn’t a must-win by any means with five more matches remaining for each.

The USMNT has been superb on U.S. soil, not losing a point on their home ground during a 23-match unbeaten streak that stretches back to 2001, according to USSoccer.com.

CenturyLink Field's energy should provide an ample home-field advantage for the shorthanded Americans to handily overcome the Perez-less Panamanians in a low-scoring defensive battle.

USA 1, Panama 0