USMNT to play Honduras on March 24 in critical World Cup Qualifier
(Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team looks to bounce back in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying when they host Honduras tonight at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. (10:30 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas). The U.S. will need three points from its third Final Round World Cup Qualifier to get back on track towards Russia 2018.
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.
| 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 |
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.
Under the new direction of Arena, the MNT earned a 0-0 draw on Jan. 29 vs. Serbia before using a Jordan Morris strike to take a 1-0 victory against Jamaica on Feb. 3 in Chattanooga. With 72 all-time victories, Arena is the winningest head coach in U.S. MNT history and returns to the city where he managed his first game for the National Team, a 0-0 draw vs. Australia on Nov. 6, 1998.
HONDURAS ANNOUNCES ROSTER
On Monday, March 13, the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Futbol de Honduras (FENAFUTH) 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), 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)
