SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- There is a grim awareness surrounding the United States national team ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Honduras. The table doesn't lie, and the difficulty and magnitude of the match has enveloped the side, much like the heat and humidity that was present at Monday's practice session.
The U.S. finds itself level with Honduras with eight points, and only goal differential is keeping the Americans in the third and final automatic qualifying spot. Panama is just a point behind both teams in fifth place. The U.S. is also coming off a humbling 2-0 defeat at home to Costa Rica, which has complicated an already difficult qualifying journey.