Pulisic scored a pair of first-half penalties — both given against Panama captain Anibal Godoy — before completing his treble with a virtuoso goal in the second half to leave the US with one foot in this year’s finals in Qatar.

Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola scored the other goals for the US in a victory at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium that ended Panama’s hopes of qualifying from the Concacaf region.

The win means the US need only to avoid a heavy defeat — by six goals — against Costa Rica on Wednesday to qualify automatically.