Canada vs. USA – FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Sunday, January 30, 2022

The top two teams in FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualifying go head-to-head this Sunday, January 30, as first-place Canada welcomes second-place USA to Hamilton.

The two sides are separated by just a single point in the standings, with third-place Mexico sitting a point behind the Yanks. With only five games remaining, the importance of Sunday’s clash cannot be overstated.

I will share my prediction and betting pick for Canada vs. USA a little later. First, let’s assess the odds, analyze the head-to-head record, and take a closer look at the teams.

As you can see, there is very little between Canada (2.75) and the USA (2.50) in the eyes of the top soccer betting sites. The Stars and Stripes are marginal favorites, but the Maple Leafs aren’t far behind.

At first glance, the price for the draw bet looks attractive here. Both sides will be desperate to avoid defeat on Sunday, meaning we will likely see a close-fought battle between two in-form teams.

The Canadians and Americans have faced each other 39 times over the years. The USMNT has the upper hand in this fixture, having won 18 games. Canada has picked up ten wins, with the other 11 clashes ending in a draw.

In more recent times, however, the Stars and Stripes have dominated this fixture. They have lost just one of the previous ten meetings, registering five wins and four draws in the process.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw back in September. Gregg Berhalter’s boys racked up 72% possession on that occasion, but Canada managed to claim a precious point.

On Thursday, the Canadians maintained their unbeaten record in the current WCQ campaign. They claimed an eye-catching 2-0 victory in Honduras, meaning they have won five and drawn four of their nine matches.

Jonathan David scored the second goal of the game, enhancing his impressive international record. The New York-born Lille forward has netted 18 goals in just 24 appearances for Canada.

We all know what Canada’s exciting young forwards are capable of. They have scored 15 goals in nine WCQs, making them the top scorers in the group. Still, the backline must also be given huge credit. They boast the joint-best defensive record, having conceded just five goals.

With four clean sheets coming in their past seven outings, the Canucks will be confident of preventing the USA from scoring on Sunday.

It is no surprise that Gregg Berhalter’s men beat El Salvador on Thursday. The only surprising thing is that they failed to score more than one goal.

Despite seeing 63% possession and racking up 17 shots, the Stars and Stripes only managed to notch a 1-0 victory in Ohio. Antonee Robinson grabbed the goal, taking advantage of Jesus Ferreira’s assist.

Berhalter may be tempted to shake things up on Sunday. Timothy Weah and Jesus Ferreira started alongside Chelsea superstar Christian Pulisic last time out, with Gyasi Zardes, Brenden Aaronson, and Jordan Morris coming off the bench.

With guys like Ricardo Pepi, Miles Robinson, and Cristian Roldan waiting in the wings, the Stars and Stripes are spoiled for choice in every department.

I expect these two rivals to produce a tight encounter in Hamilton. With just a single point between them in the standings, there is very little to separate Canada and the USA right now.

Both teams are enjoying excellent runs, too. While the Canadians have lost two of their previous 20 clashes, the Yanks have suffered just one defeat in their last 19 games. Pretty impressive, huh?

Having taken everything into consideration, I can see Canada holding the States to a draw on Sunday. Although Berhalter’s boys are the bookmakers’ narrow favorites to win, Canada has more than enough quality to snatch a point.

In my eyes, the price for the draw bet is too good to ignore here. The teams registered a 1-1 draw when they met in Nashville back in September – and I expect them to dish up a similar result this time around.

With a place in the World Cup at stake, both sides will be happy to avoid defeat on Sunday. They can then concentrate on winning their final four qualifiers and booking their place at Qatar 2022.