LOS ANGELES — Forward Gio Reyna returns to the young U.S. roster, called up Thursday for this month's final three World Cup qualifiers, which will determine whether the U.S. returns to in this fall's tournament in Qatar.
The U.S., second behind Canada in the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying standings, must finish in the top three to earn an automatic berth in the World Cup, and its three remaining matches are against its three closest pursuers. The Americans will open against Mexico — which trails the U.S. on goal differential — March 24 in Mexico City, before facing fourth-place Panama, four points back of the U.S., in Orlando, Fla., on March 27.
Coach Gregg Berhalter's team then closes qualifying March 30 in Costa Rica. Five points from the three games would guarantee a World Cup berth, meaning the U.S., which has never won a qualifier in Mexico or Costa Rica, can't afford to lose both.
