Mexico qualifies for 2014 World Cup

Mexico may have taken the long road, but the CONCACAF nation has officially qualified for

the World Cup. Oribe Paralta, the hero in the first leg with a brace, continued his hot

streak with a first-half hat trick to help Mexico avoid what would have been by far the

worst loss in history for El Tri, which sneaked into the playoffs at the final minute of

the final CONCACAF matchday thanks to the rival United States.

Despite once being regarded as the region's strongest side, Mexico ended the Hexagonal

with a 2-5-3 record. With one game left to play in the Hex, El Tri lost to Costa Rica on

the road but the U.S. scored late in its match against Panama to eliminate La Marea Roja

and allow Mexico through.
If Mexico had failed to qualify, it was widely reported that the nation and federation

would have lost around $1 billion in sponsorship deals. Going through four coaches in two

months, the federation chose Club America manager Miguel Herrera to save the team, and he

didn't disappoint.