Challenging match ahead in Honduras.

The US plays Honduras this Saturday night, October 10th, in a World Cup Qualifier at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, in the city of San Pedro Sula. 

But what kind of place is San Pedro Sula, and what is the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano all about?  I took a look around the internets to find out more…

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A preview of the upcoming US v Honduras World Cup Qualifier as well as on overview of what it will take for the US to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Although not a do or die game, the Honduras match is a massive game and will be a big test for the boys. Also, they don’t mention it on here, but it has been reported that Clint Dempsey will miss this match and then be re-evaulated for the Costa Rica match in Washington D.C..

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named a roster of 22 players that will train in advance of the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica that will determine if the United States automatically qualifies for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11)

A panel of 221 sports journalists selected the final three, with the winner to be announced Oct. 20 in Los Angeles.

Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore are finalists for the 2009 Honda Player of the Year Award that honors the best performer on the U.S. national team. (more…)

Reinaldo Rueda has announced his Honduras squad that currently sits in third place, including Amado Guevara and Danilo Turcios who are out suspended for the match against the United States.

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua)

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“…because of the unstable political situation in the Central American country, where martial law is in effect and civil liberties have been curtailed, there remained some doubt whether the World Cup qualifier match would go ahead as planned. In an attempt to dispel those fears, Jerome Valcke, secretary general of FIFA, said Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro that world soccer’s governing body has no intention of postponing or moving the game.”

Sending our national team into a tense situation like this…? 

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Interesting behind the scenes perspective.