Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was given the captain's armband for Arsenal at Manchester City on Saturday after William Gallas was dropped from the squad.

The United States will open the final round of regional qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup at home against Mexico and finish its run against Costa Rica. The other three teams in CONCACAF'S qualifying tournament, played between February and October, are El Salvador, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago. The top three advance to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and the No.