Brian Ching to play against Cuba

October 3, 5:53 PMAsian-American Sports ExaminerMichael Street

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When the U.S. plays Cuba on October 11, they will have one of our country's premier Asian-Americans on the pitch, Houston Dynamo Brian Ching. US Coach Bob Bradley named his roster today, which unsurprisingly includes forward Ching, the first Hawaiian to play for the US World Cup team. Other stalwarts named to the team include Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and team captain Carlos Bocanegra, as well as young sensation Freddy Adu.

Ching has scored three goals already for the US team, which stands atop their Group 1 with a 3-0 record, having defeated each of their group members (inlcuding Cuba). A victory against Cuba would seal their spot in the final qualifying round. Cuba, on the other hand, is last in the group with an 0-3 record. Defense, led by Bocanegra, has been a hallmark of the US team, which has not allowed a goal in six straight matches, a team record.

If the US advances to the next round, they will be placed in a single six-team CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) group made up of the top two teams from each of the three current groups. The top three teams from that six-team group will advance to the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa. The fourth-place team will face the fifth-place team from South America, which has one ten-nation group.

The US currently has a 7-2-2 record in 2008, and should be a good matchup for the other CONCACAF powerhouse and perennial qualifier, Mexico. It's likely that these teams will take two of the three qualifying spots.

The match, which will take place at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., will be the first US men's soccer game in that city in four years.

The team will begin to train this weekend in DC, and a travel roster will be named after the Cuba game for the next match, against Trinidad and Tobago on October 15.

Catch Ching and the US team in their World Cup qualifying match against Cuba on October 11 on ESPN at 7 PM ET.