Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Brazil in early December for the FIFA World Cup draw as the field of teams is divided into groups for next summer’s festivities. As part of its “32 teams in 32 days” series, SPORTSNET.CA will profile each of the nations set to compete at Brazil, leading up to the draw on Dec. 6.
One shouldn’t underestimate the significance of Honduras qualifying for its second consecutive World Cup. Honduras is a proud nation with a deep love of the beautiful game. But it’s a tiny Central American country sandwiched between Guatemala and Nicaragua, and with a population of just over eight million, it doesn’t have the same resources or potential player pool as CONCACAF rivals Mexico and the United States. But thanks to a firm commitment to youth development, Los Catrachos find themselves at the big dance again, looking to improve on their group-stage exit last time around.
Programming alert: Watch the World Cup draw from Brazil on Dec. 6 live on all four main Sportsnet channels. Coverage begins at 10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT | TV schedule
How they got here: After sleepwalking and doing the bare minimum to win its semifinal round group, Honduras stepped it up in the Hex with a series of memorable and steady performances, including a historic win away to Mexico. That victory sparked a four-game unbeaten run by the Hondurans in their final matches, solidifying them as the third-best team in the CONCACAF region.
Key match: Canadian fans are still trying to forget the 8-1 debacle. That was a statement performance from Honduras, but far more impressive and important was its 2-1 win over Mexico on Sept. 6, 2013 in the Hex. That win at the Azteca solidified Honduras as CONCACAF’s third best side, giving them the momentum them to go on and claim the final automatic World Cup berth, forcing the Mexicans to go through the intercontinental playoffs.
Star player: MLS fans have become familiar with Jerry Bengtson after he joined the New England Revolution last summer as a Designated Player. He hasn’t exactly set MLS on fire, but that shouldn’t undermine his importance to Honduras. The 26-year-old striker netted nine goals for his country in the recent qualifying campaign, ranking himself among the top scorers in CONCACAF.
Player on the bubble: Houston Dynamo midfielder Alexander Lopez is a bright prospect, having played for his country at the 2012 London Olympics and earning his senior team debut in October 2010. But the 21-year-old was only called up for one of Honduras’s Hex games—he was an unused substitute—and hasn’t played for his country since this past summer’s Gold Cup tournament.
Team strengths: Confidence in the Honduran camp is running high after Los Catrachos qualified for their second consecutive World Cup—to say nothing of the fact they finished ahead of traditional CONCACAF superpower Mexico in the Hex. Coach Luis Fernando Suarez has fashioned a well-organized side noted for its work ethic and physical prowess, combining experienced stars (including Maynor Figueroa and Carlos Costly) with a healthy crop of promising prospects, including Andy Najar.
Team weaknesses: Goal-scoring. Honduras’ tally of 12 goals in the semifinal group stage of the qualifiers was seriously inflated by the 8-1 win over Canada, and they only scored 13 times in 10 games during the Hex. In total, Honduras was blanked six times in World Cup qualifying, and Jerry Bengtson and Carlos Costly accounted for 16 of the team’s 25 goals, underlining the team’s lack of offensive depth.
World Cup record
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1930 to 1958 – Did not enter
1962 to 1974 – Did not qualify
1978 – Withdrew
1982 – First round
1986 to 2006 – Did not qualify
2010 – Group stage
Team profiles: Algeria | Argentina | Australia | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Cameroon | Chile | Costa Rica | Colombia | Croatia | Ecuador | England| Germany | Ghana | Greece | Honduras | Iran | Italy | Ivory Coast | Japan | Mexico | The Netherlands | Nigeria | Portugal | Russia | South Korea | Spain | Switzerland | United States | Uruguay