31.   Still, as Meola knows better than most, anything can happen in a qualifying match in the Caribbean.

32.   The current generation has brought Ecuador up a notch, and Hurtado will likely be called by coach Francisco Maturana to World Cup qualifying matches.

33.   The rules say the national federation has priority for any World Cup qualifying match, but the league teams have their own arguments.

34.   The two nations, which have been at war for four years, will sign a peace agreement on Thursday but will play each other twice in qualifying matches.

35.   The US has never received support on such a scale for a qualifying match.

36.   The WTA ordered the qualifying match.

37.   The United States will play a crucial World Cup qualifying match against El Salvador on Sunday, and the news is not encouraging.

38.   There is the potential for a U.S. qualifying match to conflict with a late-season MLS game or even a playoff game.

39.   When Brazil plays host to Ecuador in Sao Paulo Thursday, it will be defending an unbeaten record in World Cup qualifying home matches.

40.   Without the Brits, the Reggae Boyz managed only two goals in their first five qualifying matches.