While most MLS blogs that touch on the topic of how the World Cup Qualifiers will effect league play, considering that a dozen players will be missing matches, I will not. We know the problems, and the reasons for this. Quite simply it is because our nation likes soccer on the weekends and so does FIFA.
For me there is an intriguing storyline forming, particularly considering my past as an Arabic linguist. At one point it was possible that more than five or more Arab nations would make the World Cup in South Africa, but as Qatar , UAE and Bahrain falter the only hope out of the Asian-Arab nations lies in Saudi Arabia (currently locked at nil-nil v Iran on FSC.
The African Arab nations still have chances in Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, but only two could come out with Egypt and Algeria in the same group. Tunisia started their final qualifying round with a win against Kenya today.
It could get even worse for the Arab world and its soccer fans later today though as Israel is playing at home in a match that could put them in the driver's seat for their group. Israel has only one loss at Ramat Gan in the last decade. A win over Greece today would put Israel two points up over Greece halfway through the final group stage.
So while the USA looks to hammer T&T, and Sounders FC hosts RSL, there are a few other storylines out there in the world's game.