Qatar Foci, Costa Rica vs. USA, Other Qualifiers, Pompey Rises (that photo), Friday Forecast

Friday! Let's do this.

Tonight's the Night for the U.S. Men. They're down in The Rica in rather unwelcoming environs to take on The Ticos, who are still pissed about the SnowClasico. Shit goes both ways, bitches. Here are some keys to victory for The Yanks. And here's your full preview. Grant Wahl is looking at Icelandic-American forward Aron Jóhannsson. Jeff Carlisle filed a report as well. Check the match at 10pm EDT on BeIN Sport.

It's not just the Costa Ricans and the Americans in action today. Over in CAF, there are seven spots in Brazil up for grabs. Jonathan Wilson blesses the rains down in Africa here. In UEFA, matches of note include Serbia/Croatia, Scotland/Belgium, Ireland/Sweden, and Italy/Bulgaria. And Liechtenstein/Greece. (cough). Down in CONMEBOL we're looking at Chile/Venezuela and Colombia/Ecuador. Tim Vickery is down there and takes a gander. Back in CONCACAF, Mexico will be mighty nervous at home against Honduras.

Here are 10 Things to Look Out For

We'll use any excuse to bring this old favorite back...

David Conn is one of The Guardian's top scribes. He's got a piece today on Portsmouth and how they managed to stay alive and are now owned by supporters: Pompey became the only club to collapse into administration while still in the Premier League when, in 2009, the Russian-Israeli owner, Sacha Gaydamak, pulled the funding which had won Harry Redknapp's star-stocked team the 2008 FA Cup on a wave of borrowed money.

It IS Friday, after all, and that means we've got an MLS Forecast. Yes, although pretty much every other domestic league takes a break for the Internationals, ours does not. Quite pleasant in the Northeast, though...

Sorry, we digress.

To more serious matters. France Football's Philippe Auclair has a three-part special report into Qatar's controversial hosting of the 2022 World Cup. In part one, he looks at how FIFA found itself in such a mess, and how Sepp Blatter has potentially opened up a huge rupture in the global game. In part two, he looks at the huge logistical and structural problems that moving the World Cup will pose, and questions why no serious attempts have been made to explore these issues by those who control the game. In the final part, he focuses on concerns over the conditions imposed on the migrant workers who will help build the stadia and infrastructure required for the FIFA tournament.

Menawhile, in France, Olympique Marseille's director's son was shot dead in a suspected gangland killing. Yikes.

Have a great weekend.

-SSN