USA Beach Soccer Team's World Cup qualifying bid thwarted by Panama in 2017 CONCACAF Championship

Irving Garcia and the US Beach Soccer Team will not be going to the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup. The team's qualifying campaign for that tournament was curtailed by Panama in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

The two teams traded punches during the first two periods, with Panama heading into the final 12-minute segment of the game with a 4-3 lead. But Los Canaleros opened up a 6-3 lead by the 34th minute of the 36-minute match. USA 'keeper Chris Toth scored his second of the game at the death.

The 6-4 win send Panama to the semifinals for a rematch with group-mate El Salvador. In the Group Stage, El Salvador won on penalties after the teams tied 4-4. The winner of the semifinal match-up will qualify for the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup.

The other semifinal will be contested by tournament favorite Mexico and Guadeloupe. Mexico can qualify for the World Cup with a win, but Guadeloupe - not a FIFA member - cannot. If the Caribbean team makes the final, the third-place playoff will determine the other CONCACAF qualifier for the World Cup.

The USA's tournament is not over. It is now part of the bracket that will decide fifth through eighth place at the tournament. On February 25, the Americans will play Jamaica, with the winner advancing to the fifth-place playoff on February 26. The loser will play for seventh place the same day.