The first step toward the 2018 World Cup in Russia appears to be a relatively simple one for the United States men’s national team.
The Americans received a favorable grouping on Saturday, as FIFA held its draw for the World Cup qualifying tournament during an elaborate ceremony in St. Petersburg, Russia. The United States will face Trinidad & Tobago and the winners of matches between St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Aruba, and Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala.
If the United States finishes as one of the top two teams after its group concludes home-and-away round-robin play, it will advance to the final round of qualifying, known as the hexagonal, which pits six teams against one another in another home-and-away round robin.