USA opens World Cup qualifying in Honduras

The United States national soccer team learned Wednesday its quest for a World Cup berth will open Feb. 6 in Honduras. The draw was held Wednesday in Miami Beach for the round-robin tournament that will determine the teams from North and Central America that will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Six teams will take part in the year-long qualifying event with the top three earning spots in soccer's premier competition. The fourth-place finisher will meet the winner of the Oceania region qualifying for another berth in Brazil. Three of the Americans' first four games in the 10-game tourney will take place on the road. After going to Honduras to open qualifying, Team USA will play a home game against Costa Rica March 22. That will be followed by road encounters against Mexico on March 26 and Jamaica on June 7. Qualifying ends Oct. 15 in Panama.