New US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann will have a first-hand look at a third different American rival in as many months when the USA play host to Honduras on October 8 at Miami.
The US Soccer Federation announced the friendly on Friday, hours before the team was set to face another central American side, Costa Rica, at Los Angeles.
Klinsmann, a former German international star, made his debut as the American coach last month in a 1-1 draw with Mexico at Philadelphia.
Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica were the top finishers behind the United States in CONCACAF qualifying for last year's World Cup in South Africa and figure to be major opponents on the road to reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"Honduras is a team that we may see in World Cup qualifying so this is a very good opportunity for our players," Klinsmann said. "Honduras is a skillful team, and you could see their quality in the last World Cup."
The USA, who play their first match under Klinsmann outside US soil on Tuesday in Belgium, will open World Cup qualifying next year.
Klinsmann will be able to continue analyzing talent and teamwork as he moves to put his mark on the squad.
"These are important experiences for our team as we prepare for next summer," Klinsmann said.
The United States own an 11-3-3 edge in the all-time rivalry against Honduras that began in 1965. A 3-2 US triumph in Honduras in 2009 sealed a World Cup berth for the Americans and a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica four days later gave Honduras a World Cup spot, only the second ever for the Catrachos.
Source: AFP
