Mexico, United States earn points in opening matches
Mexico tied host South Africa 1-1 in the inaugural match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Friday. South Africa scored early in the second half before Mexico's Rafael Márquez equalized.
Mexico next plays France on Thursday.
The United States earned a valuable point against England on Saturday, also rallying for a 1-1 draw. Clint Dempsey scored the lone American goal after Steven Gerrard gave England the lead in the fourth minute.
The Americans play Slovenia on Friday. Honduras begins World Cup campaign on Wednesday
Honduras will begin its World Cup campaign Wednesday when it faces Group H rival Chile. The team coached by Reinaldo Rueda will be looking for its first ever World Cup win after going 0-2-1 in its only other World Cup appearance in 1982.
Preliminary Round schedule unveiled
Canadian champion Toronto FC will open the CONCACAF Champions League against Motagua of Honduras on July 27; while two-time runner-up Cruz Azul will embark on a third attempt to win the title later the same day against San Francisco FC in Panama.
The Preliminary Round schedule also includes opening-day clashes with Trinidad's San Juan Jabloteh facing Santos Laguna of Mexico in the first leg of their series, and the MLS Cup runner-up Los Angeles Galaxy facing the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Tauro FC of Panama will host Marathon of Honduras on July 28, with Brujas of Costa Rica to follow against Joe Public of Trinidad, and the U.S. Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders hosting Metapan of El Salvador.
The first leg will conclude on July 29 with CD FAS of El Salvador hosting Guatemala's Xelaju. T
he second leg of each series will be held the following week.
Visit the Champions League Web site for more detail.
Austin presented FIFA Order of Merit
CONCACAF Vice President Lisle Austin was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, bestowed with the honor along with five others including former Dutch international and ex-Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff.
Presented with the award at the FIFA Congress prior to the start of the World Cup, the 74-year-old Austin was cited for helping shape the sport in his native Barbados and the CONCACAF region through a "tireless commitment to the game."
El Salvador, Venezuela added to CAC Games
El Salvador will join Mexico, Panama, Jamaica and St. Vincent in Group B of the men's soccer tournament at the Central American and Caribbean Games, while Venezuela will be placed in Group A.
Both teams were readmitted by CAC Games organizers for the July 17-August 1 event in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, after Venezuela indicated it would not participate and El Salvador was ineligible due to suspension by FIFA at the time of the initial draw on May 21.
Venezuela will join Costa Rica, Belize, Trinidad and Puerto Rico in Group A of the men's tournament. Both countries also were redrawn into the women's tournament, making both the men's and women's competitions 10-team events.
El Salvador was placed in Group B with Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala and Guyana, while Venezuela likewise will play in Group A against Costa Rica, Haiti, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.
National association friendlies
5:05:2010: Ipira, Argentina
ARGENTINA - HAITI 4:0
5:06:2010: Iquique, Chile
CHILE - TRINIDAD 2:0
5.07.2010: East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA:
MEXICO - ECUADOR 0:0
5.10.2010: Chicago, USA:
MEXICO - SENEGAL 1:0
5.13.2010: Houston, USA:
MEXICO - ANGOLA 1:0
5.17.2010: Mexico City:
MEXICO - CHILE 1:0
5.24.2010: London:
ENGLAND - MEXICO 3:1
5.24.2010: Buenos Aires:
ARGENTINA - CANADA 5:0
5.25.2010: East Hartford, Connecticut:
UNITED STATES - CZECH REPUBLIC 4:2
5.26.2010: Berlin:
NETHERLANDS - MEXICO 2:1
5.26.2010: Lens, France:
FRANCE - COSTA RICA 2:1
5.29.2010: Philadelphia:
UNITED STATES - TURKEY 2:1
5.27.2010: Villach, Austria:
HONDURAS - BELARUS 2:2
5.29.2010: Mérida, Venezuela:
VENEZUELA - CANADA 1:1
6.01.2010: Sion, Switzerland:
SWITZERLAND - COSTA RICA 0:1
6.02.2010: Zell am see, Austria:
HONDURAS - AZERBAIJAN 0:0
6.03.2010: Brussels, Belgium:
ITALY - MEXICO 1:2
6.05. 2010: Bratislava, Slovakia:
SLOVAKIA - COSTA RICA 3:0
6.05.2010: Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria
HONDURAS- ROMANIA 0:3
6.05.2010: Roodepoort, South Africa:
UNITED STATES - AUSTRALIA 3:1
9.04.2010: Montreal, Canada:
CANADA - HONDURAS
10.08.2010: TBD:
CANADA - UKRAINE
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