⚽️🇺🇸U.S. qualifies for the 2019 FIFA World Cup as eighteen out of twenty-four spots are clinched

The U.S. women's national team has punched their ticket to France after a 6-0 clobbering of Jamaica in the CONCACAF Championship semifinal. There were two goals apiece from Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan as well as scores from Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz. It was not much of a match as Jamaica could not keep up as the Americans found the net easily. But all the credit is due for Jamaica as they have made their first World Cup.

The Reggae Girlz beat Panama on penalties in the third-place match to become the first Carribean nation to make it past CONCACAF qualification. Both teams were a surprise package as Costa Rica and Mexico were favored to make it out of the group stage. Led by 17-year-old goalkeeper Yenith Bailey, Panama will head into a home-and-home playoff with Argentina with a World Cup spot on the line. Jamaica's starlet Jody Brown took home the tournament's Young Player award on the strength of four goals, the most of any non-American or Canadian player.

In the final with qualification secured, Canada and the U.S. squared off in a battle of the two clear top teams in their region. Rose Lavelle's first international goal led to a U.S. 2-0 victory - capped off by Alex Morgan's late score. After several retirements after winning the last World Cup, the Americans are in with a shot of winning again with a team possibly improved from 2015's roster.

These teams have qualified for the 2019 FIFA World Cup (debutants in bold & champions italicized):

• France (host nation)
• China, Thailand, Australia, Japan (x1), South Korea (2018 AFC Asian Cup top 5)
• Brazil, Chile (Copa América finalists)
• Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Norway (x1), Sweden, Germany (x2) (UEFA qualification tournament group winners - 2017-18)
• Canada, USA (x3), Jamaica (2019 CONCACAF Championship)

And now only eight spots remain (check LiveSoccerTV for updated TV listings):

• CONCACAF (North & Central Am.) v CONMEBOL (S. Am.) playoff (winner >> World Cup)
• 11/8 5p ET - Panama at Argentina
• 11/13 8p - Argentina at Panama
• UEFA playoff (winner >> World Cup)
• 11/9 2p - Switzerland at The Netherlands
• 11/13 1p - The Netherlands at Switzerland
• 2018 Africa Cup of Nations - Ghana - Nov. 17 to Dec 1 (top three >> World Cup)
• Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia
• Draw takes place October 21st, 3p ET
• Group A - Ghana + 3 teams
• Group B -  four teams
• Semifinals
• Third-place match
• Final
• 2018 OFC Nations Cup - New Caledonia - Nov. 18 to Dec. 1 (champion >> World Cup)
• Group A - New Caledonia, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti
• Group B - Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand
• Semis
• Third-place match
• Final

Panama, Algeria, Kenya, Mali, South Africa, Zambia, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, and Tahiti are seeking to make their first World Cup appearance next summer. The 2019 World Cup Draw takes place on December 8th.