Power Ranking All Countries Left in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

This summer begins the third round of qualifying for the 3.5 spots allotted to the CONCACAF for entry into the 2014 World Cup.

It's going to be a crazy time as the best teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean battle from June to October. Six teams will go back to their countries and six will head into the final round of qualifying.

The Mexicans and Americans dominated last summer's Gold Cup, and were the cream of the crop in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. They're the favorites again this coming summer, but there's several countries working very hard to close the gap and challenge the North American powerhouses.

The last set of teams to go to a World Cup out of CONCACAF were the United States, Mexico and Honduras. Costa Rica had a chance to go, but lost a two-legged playoff against Uruguay.

If these power rankings hold up, I predict two new teams to go to the World Cup. So sit back, relax and enjoy these preliminary power rankings for next summer's third round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. 

12. Guyana

When you're squeaking by with wins against Bermuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, you shouldn't really be favored for anything, should you?

They'll go up against Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador in the third round of qualifying. If they so much as scratch out a point against those three teams, I'll be astonished.

I don't think Guyana could beat any of the other 11 teams that have reached next summer's qualifying and I'd bet on Trinidad and Tobago easily taking their South American neighbors in a rematch.

Watching the Golden Jaguars of Guyana go up against the big boys of CONCACAF will be like watching a mid-week session on the training ground. Don't expect much.

11. Antigua and Barbuda

If Antigua and Barbuda so much as collect a victory in the third round of qualifying, they will have exceeded most people's expectations.

Set in a group with the United States, Jamaica and Guatemala, Antigua and Barbuda has never gotten past the second round of World Cup qualifying, so everything from here on out is icing on the cake of the best campaign soccer fans from tiny island have ever seen.

I see the high-scoring Caribbean nation surprising Guatemala, possibly winning at home on Sept. 11, 2012, but other than that, don't expect Antigua and Barbuda to do much more in qualifying.

10. Cuba

Really, any of the bottom three teams could trade positions and no one would notice.

Can someone please tell me how Cuba got a free ride to the third round of qualifying? They were dismal in this summer's Gold Cup—besting even Grenada for the distinction for worst team in the tournament—and haven't played an exhibition since June.

9. Guatemala

Guatemala is one of three teams—Panama and El Salvador are the others—to win all their games in the second round of qualifying.

The teams Guatemala battled with reveal why.

La Selecta beat out Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada—three teams that have never come close to the World Cup—but allowed goals to all three.

Guatemala's defense is suspect and will wilt under the attack of much better teams. The only match they could possibly win is against Antigua and Barbuda. Jamaica and the United States? Not a chance.

8. Canada

Oh, Canada.

As long as Canada's national soccer team is made up of MLS players, this team will never be more than mediocre. 

The Reds just finished up dominating the second round of World Cup qualification, going undefeated in six matches and allowing just one goal. But against competition like Honduras and Panama, the world will see just how good Les Rogues can be.

7. Panama

The No. 7 and No. 8 spots were a coin flip. You can thank Panama's Luis Tejada and his goal in extra time against Canada for the slight edge in these all-important power rankings.

Since the Gold Cup, Canada has been a team that has ascended, dominating inferior countries we couldn't find on a map if we tried.

But Panama has stayed the same quality, losing only to Paraguay since late June.

Either Panama or Canada will join Honduras in the third and final round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. I think it will be Panama but only by a nose.

6. El Salvador

El Salvador may not have the mostly worldly squad in CONCACAF, but they have one of the most talented.

La Selecta is made up mostly of players in the Salvadoran Primera División de Fútbol Profesional. Despite the team's lack of opportunities to play top talent in Europe, they fared well in last summer's Gold Cup, losing to Panama in the quarterfinals due to penalty kicks.

El Salvador were the better team that day—as well as in group play against Costa Rica. They're an experienced side and their strong midfield is the biggest reason why I think the country will sneak into the final round of qualifying.

5. Honduras

Honduras has never fared well in World Cup play, but then again they've never drawn well for their group either. In the most recent World Cup, Honduras was thrown into a group that included Spain, Chile and Switzerland.

But with 24-year-old forward Jerry Bengston growing as an incredible soccer player and the team showing they can hang with the big boys of CONCACAF, reaching the semifinals of the Gold Cup and defeating Jamaica in a recent friendly, Honduras looks poised to clinch a spot in the third round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Honduras has a relatively easy group, facing Panama, Cuba and Canada—teams that are all, in my opinion, inferior to Los Catrachos.

The only question mark is midfielder Julio César de León Dailey. Honduras' leading scorer, Dailey will turn 33 in the middle of next summer's qualification. Can he still perform when Honduras moves into the final round of qualifying? 

4. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a team not on a lot of people's radars, but after recent success in friendlies against Brazil—losing only by a goal—and drawing with Spain, I see La Sele looking to repeat the success they had when they were the most talented team, coming out of CONCACAF for the 2002 World Cup.

With a squad of players playing in top divisions all over the world, they have experience going up against top competition. The team also doesn't have a single player over 30, an incredible advantage for a qualifying run that will span several years.

The sky's the limit for Costa Rica, as they could very easily slide into one of the top three spots before next summer's round of qualifying is up.

3. Jamaica

The Reggae Boyz of Jamaica blew me away in last summer's Gold Cup, firing on all cylinders. After their defeat of Honduras in group play, I thought they were headed to the finals against Mexico.

Sadly, they lost to the U.S. in the quarterfinals.

However, since their exit from the Gold Cup, Jamaica has slowly been declining in performance. They haven't captured a victory in their last four friendlies.

It's good to see Jamaica's national players branching out all over the world, playing professionally in America, Norway and England. Led by a quick attack and anchored by a strong defense, Jamaica will easily qualify for the last round of qualifying. 

So, Mexico and the U.S. are ranked in the top two spots? Who's No.1 and who's No.2?

2. Mexico

Did anyone really think the CONCACAF was anything more than a two-horse race? Mexico and the U.S. represent the best that North and Central America and the Caribbean have to offer.

Despite going down 2-0 to the U.S. in last summer's Gold Cup final, Mexico showed why they're a lock to go to the 2014 World Cup. They have an incredible attack that's led by Javier Hernandez—the tournament's leading scorer—and Giovanni Dos Santos and pushed by a back line that is the best in the region.

El Tricolor will go undefeated in next summer's round of qualifying that sees them playing Guyana, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

So, if I think Mexico's the second-best team in CONCACAF, that means...

1. United States

The U.S. is the best team in the CONCACAF right now.

Under Jurgen Klinsmann, this team is looking its best since 2002. The new manager from Germany is bringing in players that were overlooked under former manager Bob Bradley

The tactics are also vastly improved. Moving around some of our most experienced players is a bold move, but one that's paid off. I can't wait to see Michael Bradley settle in as a winger.

The players are also improving at an incredible rate. Clint Dempsey has, in my opinion, surpassed Landon Donovan as the best player on the squad. And, Tim Howard is the best goalkeeper in the region. Hands down.

Klinsmann's new formations have also shown that Jozy Altidore plays better with a partner, and will be able to duplicate the success the young striker has had at the club level.

Oh, and completely dismantling the defense and starting from scratch as soon as possible was a great idea.

Call me biased, call me a homer, I really don't care. All I know is that I'd put $500 on a two-legged home and away playoff between the U.S. and Mexico. And frankly, that's more convincing than any stats I could ever find.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think.