MEXICO CITY (AP):

The United States, already qualified for the World Cup, can help determine today whether they're joined by Costa Rica or Honduras from CONCACAF.

Costa Rica need to beat the US to claim the region's third and final automatic qualifying spot.

However, a draw would give Honduras a chance when they visit neighbour El Salvador.

Costa Rica have 15 points and Honduras 13.

If Honduras win and Costa Rica draw or lose, Honduras will make their second World Cup appearance. If Costa Rica and Honduras tie on points, Honduras will qualify with a better goal difference.

"We are going to El Salvador with plans to guarantee our participation in the World Cup," said Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda.

The team that finishes fourth faces a two-leg play-off on November 14 and 18 against the number five team from South America. That could be Argentina, Uruguay or Ecuador. The winner of that series gets another berth.

Mexico and the United States booked their places from the North and Central America and Caribbean region on Saturday.

Mexico play last-placed Trinidad and Tobago in today's other regional match.

Costa Rica are trying to make their third straight World Cup appearance and Honduras have made it only once - in Spain in 1982.

Winning debut

New Costa Rica coach, Rene Simoes, made a winning debut on Saturday, beating Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 just a few weeks after replacing fired Rodrigo Kenton. He will field strikers Alvaro Saborio and Esteban Sirias against the United States, as well as a few veterans he called up after taking over.

Honduras are probably the sentimental favourite.

The impoverished Central American country has been beset by political unrest since June 28 when the military detained President Manuel Zelaya and sent him into exile.

"Reaching the World Cup is a huge obligation we have, a big debt we owe to the Honduran people," Rueda said.