U.S. eyes road semis in Cup qualifying

ZURICH, Switzerland - The United States would open the semifinals of 2010 World Cup qualifying with road games at Guatemala and Cuba if early rounds play to form.

The Americans have a first-round bye, then play a home-and-home series against Barbados or Dominica.

Under the schedule announced by FIFA yesterday, if the U.S. team advances it would open the semifinals at the winner of the second-round matchup between Guatemala and St. Lucia, or the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Americans then would play the winner of the Cuba series against Aruba, or Antigua and Barbuda.

The first game likely would be Aug. 20 and the second match on Sept. 6-7.

The full schedule for the semifinals is to be released later this week.

Mexico, which plays Belize or St. Kitts and Nevis in the second round, would be at home for three of its first four semifinal matches, making a trip to Jamaica, the Bahamas or the British Virgin Islands for it's second of the four matches. *