KANSAS CITY, Kan., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Graham Zusi and Jozy Altidor scored late in the contest Friday to bring the United States a 2-0 victory over Jamaica in World Cup qualifying.
The Americans had already clinched a berth in next year's soccer spectacular, which will be held in Brazil, but Friday's win ensured the United States would finish on top of the six-nation CONCACAF qualifying group.
Qualifying for the Americans ends next Tuesday with a trip to Panama.
Mexico, meanwhile, kept its World Cup hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Panama in Mexico City. If Mexico can earn a point at Costa Rica on Tuesday, it will take part in a two-match playoff with New Zealand for a World Cup berth.
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In a full day of qualifying around the globe Friday, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Colombia all earned their spots in the World Cup. Fourteen of the 32 places in next year's tournament have been filled.
Honduras moved closer to grabbing one of the open spots when it defeated Costa Rica 1-0. That left Honduras in third place in the CONCACAF group, three points in front of Mexico.
Honduras will need only to tie Jamaica on Tuesday to grab the third and final automatic spot from the region.
The United States improved to 6-1-2 in the qualifying tournament. Jamaica's slim hopes for grabbing a World Cup berth were officially wiped out.
Zusi put the Americans in front in the 77th minute when he took a pass that came from Alejandro Bedova deep in the penalty box. Bedoya almost lost the ball before spinning and finding Zusi at the top of the area.
Zusi one-timed a hooking shot that just made it inside the left post past goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.
Altidor and Edward Castillo then worked a give-and-go in front of the goalmouth with Altidor easily beating Kerr for the second goal.
In addition to those countries earning World Cup berths Friday, Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Costa Rica had already clinched their spots.
Mexico held a 1-0 lead over Panama until Luis Tejada tied it in the 81st minute. With Mexico needing a goal to keep from falling to the brink of elimination, Raul Jimenez came up with an acrobatic bicycle kick that found the net. It was the only home win for Mexico during the qualifying tournament.
