The U.S. Men’s National Team resumes the Final Round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying seeking to #Get3 against Honduras in a crucial clash on Friday, March 24 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. Coverage of USA-Honduras, presented by Volpi Foods, begins at 7:30 p.m. PT on FS1, UniMas and UDN. Fans can also follow the game live on Facebook and Twitter at @ussoccer and @ussoccer_esp.
| 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CONCACAF Final Round Standings | ||||||||
| TEAM | GP | W | L | D | Pts. | GF | GA | GD |
| Costa Rica | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Mexico | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Panama | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Honduras | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| United States | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -5 |
MATCHDAY 3 SCHEDULE
Friday, March 24 Time/TV
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Panama 7 p.m. ET (beIN Sports)
Mexico vs. Costa Rica 8:50 p.m. ET (FS1)
USA vs. Honduras 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMas, UDN)
STORYLINES
#GET3
The MNT enters these matches with no points from the first two games of the Hex, shrinking the margin of error with eight games remaining. Historically, qualifying for the World Cup through CONCACAF virtually requires earning results at home, so the focus right now is firmly on getting three points against Honduras in San Jose.
EXPERIENCE A PLENTY
The roster features 19 players with previous World Cup Qualifying experience. A total of 11 eligible players (Jermaine Jones would make 12 but is suspended due to yellow card accumulation) have 10 or more World Cup Qualifying appearances while five of those have played in more than 30 previous qualifiers and sit in the top six of the MNT’s all-time qualifying caps list behind only Landon Donovan (40): Clint Dempsey (36; second all-time), Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley and Tim Howard (33 each; tied for third all-time), and Michael Bradley (31; tied for sixth all-time).
FIRST FULL GATHERING SINCE NOVEMBER
This week’s camp marks the first gathering of the full group since last November and the losses to Mexico and Costa Rica. The annual January Camp was made up almost exclusively of M.L.S. players since the European leagues and Liga MX were in season and those clubs were not required to release their MNT members. Arena has been in constant contact and made two trips outside the United States to meet with European-based players. He will work with many of them on the field for the first time when they report this weekend.
TRIO RETURNS
The U.S. will be boosted by the return of three veteran players from the injury list. After being sidelined due to an irregular heartbeat, Clint Dempsey rejoins the MNT for the first time since last June’s Copa America Centenario. Tim Howard is also back after recovering from an adductor fracture during November’s 2-1 World Cup Qualifying defeat against Mexico. Having recovered from an MCL strain while playing for Stoke City, Geoff Cameron returns to the USA roster for the first time since a 2-0 friendly win at Cuba on Oct. 7, 2016, in Havana.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 10/1), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 15/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls; 18/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0)
USA ROSTER NOTES:
- The roster features 19 players who have previous World Cup Qualifying experience and 11 who have represented the USA at a FIFA World Cup.
- A total of 11 players on the roster have 10 or more World Cup Qualifying appearances while five of those have played in more than 30 previous qualifiers and sit in the top six of the MNT’s all-time qualifying caps list behind only Landon Donovan (40): Clint Dempsey (36; second all-time), Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley and Tim Howard (33 each; tied for third all-time), and Michael Bradley (31; tied for sixth all-time).
- While 17 players on the roster were part of January Camp, defenders Jorge Villafaña and Walker Zimmerman and midfielders Sebastian Lletget and Dax McCarty were the big winners, with all four looking to make their qualifying debuts.
- Three more players on the roster could also make their World Cup Qualifying debuts: goalkeepers David Bingham and Nick Rimando, as well as forward Chris Wondolowski.
- Midfielder Jermaine Jones will serve a one-game suspension for the March 24 match vs. Honduras.
- Three players are carrying yellow cards into these matches: Altidore, Bradley, and Brooks. Their next caution will result in a one-match suspension.
- Ten eligible players have previous World Cup Qualifying appearances against Honduras: Howard (4), Altidore, Bradley and Dempsey (3 each), Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez (2 each), Beasley, Besler, Kljestan and Zusi (1).
- Dempsey leads the team with four career goals against Honduras. The MNT’s second all-time leading scorer tallied against LosCatrachos in a 2-1 World Cup Qualifying loss on Feb. 6, 2013 in San Pedro Sula.
- Altidore has two career strikes against Honduras, including the game-winner in the USA’s 1-0 shutout in the Final Round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
- Six U.S. MNT players joined camp in San Jose after scoring for their clubs this past week : Kellyn Acosta, Altidore, John Brooks, Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic.
GAME-BY-GAME: USA-HONDURAS ALL-TIME WCQ HISTORY
The U.S. has met Honduras in eight World Cup Qualifiers during four different cycles. Historically, the MNT has performed well against the Central American nation, going 15-4-4 all-time and 12-2-3 on U.S. soil. Additionally, the U.S. holds a 5-2-1 mark against Los Catrachos in World Cup Qualifying, with Arena going 5-1-0 against Honduras during his first tenure as MNT head coach from 1998-2006. Arena’s one defeat did come in FIFA World Cup Qualifying, as Honduras edged the U.S. in a wild 3-2 contest on Sept. 1, 2001 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. A brief rundown of every qualifying match between the two nations:
| USA-Honduras All-Time World Cup Qualifying Results | |||
| Date | Result | U.S. Goal Scorers | Site |
March 17, 1965 | 1-0 W | E. Murphy | San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
March 21, 1965 | 1-1 D | E. Murphy | Tegucigalpa, Honduras |
March 28, 2001 | 2-1 W | Stewart, Mathis | San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
Sept. 1, 2001 | 2-3 L | Stewart (2) | Washington, D.C. |
June 6, 2009 | 2-1 W | Donovan, Bocanegra | Chicago, Ill. |
Oct. 10, 2009 | 3-2 W | Casey (2), Donovan | San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
Feb. 6, 2013 | 1-2 L | Dempsey | San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
June 18, 2013 | 1-0 W | Altidore | Sandy, Utah |
USA-HONDURAS NOTES
- The U.S. Men’s National Team holds a 15-4-4 all-time advantage against Honduras and has gone 12-2-3 on U.S. soil.
- The MNT has gone 5-2-1 against Los Catrachos in World Cup Qualifying.
- Bruce Arena managed against Honduras six times during his first tenure as MNT manager, going 5-1-0.
- On Sept. 1 2001, Honduras became the first team to defeat the U.S. in a home World Cup Qualifier since 1985, earning a wild 3-2 victory at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
- The MNT clinched qualification to the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a 3-2 away victory of their own on Oct. 10, 2009 in San Pedro Sula.
- The first match of the series came when the U.S. defeated Honduras 1-0 in a World Cup Qualifier on March 17, 1965 in San Pedro Sula. The result was the MNT’s first qualifying win in Central America.
- Notably, the USA faced Honduras in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, where the Yanks defeated Los Catrachos 4-3 on penalty kicks to lift its first regional crown.
- The U.S. is 2-0-2 all-time in matches played in San Jose, Calif.
- San Jose’s Spartan Stadium was the site of Bruce Arena’s first match as MNT head coach, a 0-0 draw against Australia on Nov. 6, 1998.
Honduras narrowly advanced to the Final Round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, edging Canada by a point to finish second in CONCACAF’s Semifinal Round Group A last September. Having played both of their initial final round qualifiers at home, Honduras comes into the match with three points after falling 1-0 to Panama on Nov. 11 before rebounding with a 3-1 victory against Trinidad & Tobago four days later.
Since playing those matches, Honduras has kept busy by winning the 2017 Copa Centroamericana, which served as UNCAF’s qualifying tournament for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Los Catrachos went 4-0-1 during January’s tournament in Panama, where they drew only with tournament runners-up Costa Rica en route to their fourth Central American title. Most recently, Honduras dropped a 1-0 result to Jamaica (Feb. 16 in Houston) and 3-1 to Ecuador (Feb. 22 in Guayaqull) and enters the match against the U.S. having taken two points from three away games in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
HONDURAS ROSTER:
On Monday, March 13, Honduras head coach Jorge Luis Pinto announced a 26-player roster that would train together ahead of World Cup Qualifying matches against the United States (March 24) and Costa Rica (March 28):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ricardo Canales (Vida), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real España)
DEFENDERS (8): Ever Alvarado (Olimpia), Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/MEX),Felix Crisianto (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas/USA), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/SCO), Cesar Oseguera (Real España), Allans Vargas (Real España),
MIDFIELDERS (10): Brayan Acosta (Real España), Erick Andino (Motagua), Jorge Claros (Real España), Carlos Disuca (Motagua), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City/USA ), Óscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Mario Martinez (Enppi; EGY), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa FC), Andy Najar (Anderlecht/BEL), Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo/USA)
FORWARDS (5): Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Michael Chirinos (Olimpia/HON), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo/USA), Eddie Hernandez (Tolima/COL), Anthony Lozano (Tenerife/ESP)
HONDURAS NOTES:
- Honduras comes into Matchday 3 sitting fourth with three points in the six-team Final Round World Cup Qualifying group. Los Catrachos fell 1-0 at home vs. Panama on Nov. 11 before recovering with a 3-1 home win vs. Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 15.
- Honduras has been coached by Jorge Luis Pinto since 2014. Prior to taking his current job, the Colombian manager led Costa Rica to the Quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
- Ten players on the Honduras roster represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup: goalkeepers Luis LĂłpez and Donis Escober; defenders Brayan Beckeles, Maynor Figueroa and Emilo Izaguirre; midfielders Ă“scar Boniek GarcĂa, Jorge Claros, Roger Espinoza, Mario MartĂnez and Andy Najar
- Three players on the Honduras roster have scored against the U.S. MNT before: Carlos Discua tallied in Honduras’ 2-1 loss to open the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 7, 2015, Maynor Figueroa tallied in a 1-1 draw on Oct. 10, 2014 and Roger Espinoza scored the third goal in Honduras’ 3-1 win on Jan. 23, 2010.
- The Honduras roster features five players that currently play in Major League Soccer: Houston Dynamo trio of Ă“scar Boniek Garcia, Alberth Ellis and Romell Quioto are joined by Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza and FC Dallas defender Maynor Figueroa.
- Quioto scored Honduras’ opening goal in their 3-1 win vs. Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 15.
- Back in 2015, Ellis scored both goals for Honduras in Los Catrachos’ 2-0 victory against the U.S. U-23s in the Semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship.
