Scoring early to draw Panama out of its favored tight zone, then making it pay for coming out, the U.S. national futsal team defeated Panama 7-1 on Sunday in the third-place game of the 2008 CONCACAF Championships, qualifying for the FIFA World Championships in Brazil.

A thunderous home crowd at Domo Polideportivo carried Guatemala over the U.S. national futsal team 4-0 on Saturday in the semifinals of the 2008 CONCACAF Championships. In order to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Championships in Brazil, the U.S. must beat Panama in the third-place game on Sunday.

The U.S. national futsal team has never failed to qualify for the finals of a CONCACAF championship. The team continued the streak Thursday after defeating Costa Rica 6–2. With seven points, the U.S. won Group B and drew the host team, Guatemala, in a match scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Domo Polideportivo.

Keith Tozer has coached the U.S. national futsal team in 55 international matches over 12 years, including four CONCACAF Championships and two FIFA World Championships. Thursday’s performance, he said, might have been the best of them all.