The United States are back at the FIFA World Cup despite a 2-0 defeat in Costa Rica ©Getty Images

Mexico and the United States formally booked their places at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in the final round of Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualifying matches, while Costa Rica will contest an inter-confederation playoff against New Zealand.

Canada had made sure of a first World Cup appearance since 1986 in the penultimate round of fixtures, with the two CONCACAF heavyweights Mexico and the US in pole position to join them with a three-point advantage over Costa Rica and vastly superior goal difference.

Gerardo Martino's Mexico leapfrogged the US into second place after a comfortable 2-0 win against El Salvador at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Uriel Antuna opened the scoring after 17 minutes before Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty just before the break.

Mexico have booked an eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.

They have progressed through the group stage but been eliminated in the round of 16 in their previous seven tournaments, which has become something of a national obsession in Mexico.

After surprisingly missing out in 2018 for the first time since Mexico 1986, the US are back at the finals tournament.

With a goal difference advantage over their opponents Costa Rica at the Estadio Nacional in San José, the US had effectively qualified already, with the hosts requiring a six-goal victory to progress.

Goals early in the second half from Juan Pablo Vargas and Anthony Contreras had them 2-0 up, but that was how it finished.

Uriel Antuna opened the scoring for Mexico as a 2-0 win over El Salvador clinched an eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance ©Getty Images
Uriel Antuna opened the scoring for Mexico as a 2-0 win over El Salvador clinched an eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance ©Getty Images

Costa Rica placed fourth after a ending their qualifying campaign with six wins and a draw in Mexico from their last seven matches.

They now face a one-leg playoff in Costa Rica in June against Oceania Football Confederation qualification tournament winners New Zealand.

Canada kept hold of top spot despite a 1-0 reverse in Panama after Gabriel Torres' 49th-minute goal at the Estadio Rommel Fernández.

In the other dead-rubber, Jamaica moved up a place to sixth after coming from behind to beat bottom side Honduras at Independence Park in Kingston.

Ángel Tejeda's penalty had Honduras on course for a first win in the round robin, but Leon Bailey converted a penalty to level the score before Ravel Morrison struck the eventual winner in first-half stoppage time.

Mexico and the US are the 28th and 29th of the 32 teams to qualify for Qatar 2022, with the group-stage draw due to be held tomorrow.