Australia will play Honduras in the final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off after the Central American nation stunned giants Mexico at home, winning 3-2 and benefiting from other results going in their favour.

None was bigger than the humiliating 2-1 loss the US suffered at the hands of minnows Trinidad and Tobago to miss out on qualifying for a World Cup for the first time in 32 years.

Elsewhere, Panama clinched a dramatic 87th-minute winner at home to the already qualified Costa Rica to seal the final automatic qualification spot for Russia 2018 and reach the World Cup for the first time.

Honduras' shock win over Mexico was enough to seal fourth spot and a play-off with the Socceroos.

While it means Australia avoided a clash with one of CONCACAF's powerhouses in the US, they will likely have to travel to one of the most intimidating and dangerous cities in the world.

Honduras have played all their World Cup qualifiers at the Estadio Olimpico Municipal in San Pedro Sula, rather than in their capital city of Tegucigalpa.

San Pedro Sula, until recently, statistically had the world's highest murder rate outside of a war zone. Last year, it had a homicide rate of 112 people for every 100,000.

The atmosphere at Honduras' home games is famously tense and hostile. It will make for one of the toughest situations coach Ange Postecoglou has faced, in what is set to be his final away game in charge of the Socceroos before resigning before the World Cup. He hopes to receive as much financial support as possible from the FFA for the cut-throat tie.

The Hondurans have been inconsistent in qualifying but showed incredible fortitude to seal fourth place in the final round on Wednesday. Nothing less than a win against powerhouse Mexico would have sufficed and they came back from a goal down to win 3-2.

They have been without star player Andy Najar for the recent crucial games as the Anderlecht winger has suffered from a hamstring injury. However, wingers Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis have emerged as the shining lights throughout this campaign, having scored 10 goals between them.

Los Catrachos are in pursuit of their fourth World Cup berth, having made their debut in 1982 before returning in 2010 and 2014. Former English Premier League regular Maynor Figueroa is a veteran from those last two campaigns and remains their defensive stalwart. The 34-year-old is now playing in the MLS for Dallas and is set to captain Honduras against Australia on November 6.

Defensive midfielder Alfredo Mejia is the linchpin of a tactically flexible side that frequently changes formations with each game, while youngster Bryan Acosta is emerging as a promising partner in the middle of the park. Coach Jorge Luis Pinto is somewhat of a tinkerman, having used five different systems in the eight games of the final qualifying group stage.