MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Maybe it’s naïve or maybe it’s prophetic but either way, this is how U.S. Soccer coaches and staff envision Monday night in the Twin Cities: An eight-hour flight arrives from Honduras, via Houston, at around 9 p.m. Off shuffles the beleaguered Honduran national team, which became the first side to be mathematically eliminated from Concacaf’s World Cup qualifying competition after Sunday’s home loss to El Salvador. It’s been dark for hours, and the wind chill is under 20 degrees. It was in the 70s back home.
The Octagonal has been a disaster for Los Catrachos.