MEXICO CITY (AP):

The United States have already secured a berth in their sixth straight World Cup, but can still help determine today whether Costa Rica or Honduras claim the third and final automatic qualifying spot from the region.

Mexico and the United States booked their places on Saturday.

Costa Rica have 15 points and Honduras, 13. Costa Rica play the US today in Washington, DC, and Honduras are at neighbours El Salvador. Mexico play a largely meaningless away match against Trinidad and Tobago, the last-place team in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

A victory will guarantee Costa Rica third place. However, a draw gives Honduras a chance.

If Honduras win - and Costa Rica draw or lose - Honduras will be making their second World Cup appearance. If Costa Rica and Honduras tie on points, Honduras get the nod because they have a better goal difference.

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

The team that fails to finish third faces a two-leg playoff on November 14 and 18 against the No. 5 team from South America. That could be Argentina, Uruguay or Ecuador. The winners of that series gets another berth.

third straight appearance

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

New Costa Rica coach Reneé 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 veteran players he called up after taking over.

The US are likely to be without injured midfielder Clint Dempsey.

Honduras are probably the sentimental favourites.

The impoverished Central America 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 would offer some temporary relief from the political stalemate.

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