Washington - he 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. 4 team meets South America's fifth-place nation in a home-and-home playoff for another berth.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley was upbeat after Saturday's draw. The low-key event was conducted a few hours ahead of FIFA's draw for next year's Confederations Cup, widely seen as a warmup to the World Cup.

"The expectation is always that the last round will be very competitive and certainly when you look at this schedule, opening at home with Mexico and finishing at home with Costa Rica, it's a good test."

The United States and Costa Rica had easy passage to the final qualifying round. Mexico, coached by former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, struggled on the road and gained its only points with a draw against lowly Canada.

"It's just the proof that all around the world qualifying is competitive," Bradley said. "Especially when you play games on the road, you take nothing for granted. We have a great deal of respect for Mexico. They have a very good team."

For the Confederations Cup, the U.S. was drawn with World Cup champion Italy, Brazil and Egypt in one group. European champion Spain joins New Zealand, Iraq (web|news) and South Africa in the other.

Host South Africa, the lowest-seeded entry in the easier group, avoids Brazil and one of the two European teams. South Africa opens the two-week tournament against Iraq on June 14.

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