Looking ahead to next week’s U.S. opponent, Guatemala

Jun 7, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT

The United States gets to wade slowly into World Cup qualifying, opening against a Caribbean island nation that looks a better spot for producing those soothing Corona beer ads than for producing World Cup-caliber soccer.

Guatemala gets no such luxury as they plow into the qualifying grind.

The Central American nation dives straight into the deep end, playing Friday at Jamaica, which qualified for a World Cup not so far back (in 1998, where the team beat Japan in first-round play but did not advance from the group).

So, Friday’s match at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica, is a difficult way to start a 2014 cycle that will be strewn with obstacles the Azul y Blanco.

That’s why next week’s qualifier in Ciudad de Guatemala is sure to be such a test for the United States. Depending on Friday’s result in Kingston, the Guatemalans may already be desperate in their quest, mammoth as it is, to do what similarly-challenged Honduras did in 2006: achieve the World Cup dream.

Here’s a good report on Guatemala’s ongoing effort, and on the country’s strong ties with Major League Soccer, including Chicago Fire bright light Marco Pappa.

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3 Comments (Feed for Comments)

slxc - Jun 7, 2012 at 1:09 PM

Four years ago we had to Beat the game in the United States, but the arbiter of Surinamese origin, gave him the match and the Americans won 0-1 in Guatemala City, this time I think that is true will depend on the outcome of Guatemala against Jamaica, the mood of the Guatemalans and the hobby that will hopefully fill the Mateo Flores stadium, because the tickets are very expensive. The important thing is that for the United States is not going to make it easy to get the 3 points in Guatemala. HOPEFULLY I HOPE YOU WIN AND GUATEMALA.

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Steve Davis - Jun 7, 2012 at 1:20 PM

I think either way, win, lose, draw or whatever in the Friday matches, things are going to be crazy-fun for everyone down in Guatemala next Tuesday. This is what it’s all about.

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danielofthedale - Jun 7, 2012 at 2:52 PM

I think that the Guatemala game is the key game for the US in this round of WCQ. If they can go down there and get a win, that means they will most likely have 6pts and could very well be up 5 or 6 points on third place after just the first two games. A tie would not be a bad result either. And having 4 or 6 points going to Jamaica makes the trip to play the Reggae Boys a little bit less stressful. However coming off a lose to Guatemala means that all three of the US, Guatemala and Jamaica could have at least three points and that makes a win in Jamaica almost must have. You don’t want to be sitting third after that first half of games are played.

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