Mexico’s national soccer team is at serious risk of not qualifying for the Brazil 2014 World Cup after losing 2-0 to the United States in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night.

El Tri started brightly but failed to score and eventually succumbed to second-half goals from Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan. Clint Dempsey missed a last-minute penalty for the hosts but the win was enough to put the United States in first place and secure qualification for the World Cup.

Mexico is now fifth in the six-team group and looks unlikely to claim one of the top three spots that guarantee a place at the World Cup. If Mexico can overtake Panama in fourth place then it will face New Zealand in November, with the winner of the playoff going on to compete in Brazil next year.

Mexico’s coach, Jose Manuel de la Torre, or “Chepo” as he is commonly known, was fired after his side suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat by Honduras last Friday. It was only the second World Cup qualifier Mexico has ever lost at the Estadio Azteca and the first in 12 years.

De la Torre had endured a torrid 2013, with Mexico routinely failing to impress and surrendering its traditional dominance of the CONCACAF region which comprises North and Central America and the Caribbean. He was swiftly replaced by interim coach Luis Fernando Tena, before Victor Manuel Vucetich was given the permanent position on Thursday.