What USA Needs to Do to Qualify for World Cup 2018

The United States men's national team took a crucial point at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday evening as a Michael Bradley golazo was enough to seal a 1-1 draw and keep manager Bruce Arena's side third in 2018 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying. 

Carlos Vela equalised after 23 minutes to deny the U.S. a win in Mexico City, and KICK provided an overview of the current standings, although the pair have now played one game more than their peers:

A place at Russia 2018 is still far from assured, though, and with four matches left in their campaign, Arena's men effectively need to win every fixture if it's automatic qualification they seek through a top-three finish.

Costa Rica (second) and Panama (fourth) present the greatest competition to the Stars and Stripes in pursuit of a 2018 World Cup spot, although the Unites States could still book in the inter-confederation playoffs if they finish in fourth.

Read on as we discuss in more detail what the USMNT needs to do in order to tie up a berth at the 2018 World Cup, complete with analysis of its foes, upcoming fixtures and the current standings.

Overview

Back-to-back losses at home to Mexico and away to Costa Rica in November have severely stunted the United States' qualification bid, which sees it relying on the latter and Panama to drop points in the coming months.

It's far from the ideal position to be in, but ex-United States international and Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra witnessed a renewed vigor in his former side on Sunday:

Every team except Mexico now has a game in hand over Arena's side, and considering bottom team Trinidad and Tobago is only five points below it, just about any side other than leaders Mexico could finish anywhere.

That said, the aforementioned duo of Panama and Costa Rica look most likely to rob the USMNT of automatic qualification, and broadcaster Juan Arango spoke of Tuesday's fixtures as a potentially decisive moment in the crusade:

Both Panama and Costa Rica are at home on Tuesday, to Honduras, fifth, and Trinidad and Tobago, sixth, respectively. A win for Costa Rica would see it move three points clear of the Stars and Stripes, while victory for Panama would see it edge the U.S. by a point and into the fourth-place play-off spot.

The United States' remaining opponents are a critical factor, too, however, and considering it will face each team except Mexico once more, there are plenty of opportunities to turn the tide, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl recently hinted that could be happening under Arena:

The U.S. host Costa Rica in September before traveling to Honduras later that month. It will then welcome Panama to Orlando four weeks later before ending the Hexagon schedule away to Trinidad and Tobago.

Having both Costa Rica and Panama at home is a boon of high value, and winning those two matches in itself could be enough to sure up a top-three finish, although Costa Rica would preferably still need to drop points elsewhere.

Both Trinidad and Tobago and Panama have yet to travel to Mexico, undoubtedly the in-form team among CONCACAF's crop, and the United States will treat its growing defensive stature as a positive of the Arena reign.

Should its defense continue to improve, it could be a World Cup-clinching renovation on its part, but four wins from four will be the goal set in its mind for the rest of qualification, meaning goals will be needed in good number as well.