U.S. soccer team to beef up security

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 07, 2009

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.

The United States soccer team is used to playing tough away matches, but its World Cup qualifier Saturday in Honduras will have a special twist.

Honduras is in the midst of a political upheaval that pushed then-President Manuel Zelaya out of power. Roberto Micheletti is the interim president, and there have been large-scale demonstrations in recent weeks and clashes between Zelaya supporters and security forces.

No matter their political preference, however, Hondurans are expected to unite behind the national team and pack Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

"We understand the political aspect going on down there," midfielder Stuart Holden said yesterday after the team's practice in a Miami suburb. "You can guarantee it's going to be a hostile environment in that stadium."

The United States (5-2-1), seeking its sixth straight World Cup berth, can clinch a spot with a victory Saturday or a tie or win next week against Costa Rica in Washington. The U.S. leads the regional standings with 16 points. Honduras (4-3-1) is third with 13. The top three teams qualify, and the No. 4 team advances to a playoff against the fifth-place nation in South America. But soccer is not the only concern this week.

U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said there will be a "heightened awareness" to security issues while in Honduras. He said he could not disclose what extra measures might be taken by the team because of the situation.

U.S. players, as usual, have avoided taking a political stand. They also said they're not nervous about security.

"We're aware. But we're just going in there to play the game, so it's not going to really affect us at all," forward Charlie Davies said.