by Jamie Trecker

Nevertheless, Wednesday's showdown between the region's powers is bigger than usual.

Bluntly put, it's a last chance for the USA this year in three significant areas.

First, it's the USA's last chance to influence FIFA powers before the 2010 World Cup draw.

One cannot overstate how vital victory is on Wednesday if the Americans are to have any hope of avoiding a very difficult draw in South Africa.

Let's be honest — FIFA saw the United States' meltdowns this summer. Sepp Blatter and co. were in South Africa to see the USA cough up a 2-0 advantage in the Confederations Cup final against Brazil and they were at Giants Stadium for that humiliating 5-0 loss against Mexico.

And don't think that the "But that was our C team!" argument carries any truck with these folks. The Gold Cup players wore the national team jersey for what FIFA considers a major regional championship game.

So, looking ahead to the draw this fall, fans have to be realistic. The top line is going to contain host South Africa, Argentina and Brazil, then probably will be filled out with England, Germany, Holland, Italy and Spain (notice that this leaves two former champions, France and Uruguay, in the second or third row).

Getting into the second row is the best the Americans can hope for — but they have little ammunition. Their World Cup record since 1990 is dreadful (3-3-12, or 12 of a possible 54 points).

And, the only significant wins in the modern age came over Portugal in Korea and Spain this past June. If the USA drops its two most difficult road qualifiers in CONCACAF (Costa Rica, Mexico), then there is little room to suggest that it belongs in an urn with the likes of the French, Portuguese or the other South American qualifiers.

If the Americans don't get some help in seeding they will likely be drawn with the rest of CONCACAF and the Asians. Effectively that means you have no chance to face one of the weaker nations in the 32-team field. It offers the disheartening possibility of landing in a group with, say, Argentina, France and Ivory Coast.

The best you can hope for in the bottom row is to be drawn against the host South Africans, and that will be no picnic if it happens.

So win on Wednesday and you can claim to be the best in CONCACAF team despite your World Cup history. Lose it, and even a home win over Costa Rica won't change any minds in Zurich.

Second, it's the last chance to catch and hold the attention of the U.S. sports fan.

Back in the mid-1990's, the soccer journalist corps, such as it was, spent a great deal of time begging an editor for a little space to write about the World Cup. Even if they'd paid for you to be riding on the bus through the Guatemalan jungle, the fact was the editors either did not care about the sport or understand it, and you had to fight tooth and nail just to get the score in the paper.

And so, following those pleading cell phone calls, one of the favorite topics of conversation on the bus with the rest of the great unwashed would be: "What will it take for soccer to break through? A strong league or a strong national team?"

We now know the answer — the national team is the straw that stirs the drink.

MLS may be fine and dandy for soccer fans but it commands virtually no attention beyond that small group. Like opera, MLS is fiercely defended by its partisans, but nobody outside of those arguing even know the argument is taking place. Attendance is flat or declining and TV ratings don't bear mentioning. It is what it is.

The women's soccer bubble has burst as well. A team that drew a capacity crowd to the Rose Bowl in 1999 has virtually disappeared from the public mind in 10 years. Success in Pasadena did not create a groundswell of interest in soccer, after all.

But the U.S. men did get eyeballs this summer. The unexpected run to the Confed Cup final drew remarkable attention. The Gold Cup managed to be noticed, too, with another appearance in a final gaining real time on ESPN, the true seal of approval in American sports today.

Of course we know what happened. Two bad losses led to coverage that was hardly positive — even though some apologists gave it a try.

On Wednesday in Mexico City there's one more opportunity before soccer in America disappears altogether in the greater public's mind — after all the NFL and college football seasons are coming up.

A win at the Azteca and there will be reason to think some momentum exists to carry into the World Cup next summer. A loss, especially a bad one, will consign soccer to its usual position as an after-thought among Americans.

Third, it's one last exam for the current squad and staff.

Bob Bradley is apparently fireproof. He's a nice man, to be sure, but you know by now how we feel about his team prep and squad decisions.

While Bradley should be on the hot seat, it is more than likely that the guys who will be judged the sternest will be the midfielders. They will be severely tested by the combination of altitude and smog in the heat of a Mexican midday.

Guys like Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber and Clint Dempsey are about to face the test of their lives and they need to get high grades.

If Bradley is smart, he'll play a virtual 5-3-1-1 with a three-man triangle in front of Tim Howard. He'll also have to remind his wide backs that they need to stay at home because every lung-bursting run in the Azteca takes its toll.

Up front the team can rely on Landon Donovan for a big game. He's proven his mettle beyond doubt and will be ready for a maximum effort Wednesday. But both Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies will be under the 'scope. This is not a great Mexico defense and you know there will be chances, but whoever the designated finisher is has to get it right.

The Border Rivalry

• Border Rivalry revisited

With all this at stake it's also a major test for how the Americans handle the pressure of the occasion. Will we see the fighting spirit that prevailed against Spain or the disorganized muddle that showed up in Costa Rica back in early June?

The fact is, there is pressure on this team, and its coach, as never before. People are watching, and it is clear that beyond the narrow pool of soccer fans in this nation, sports fans are starting to care about this team and this sport.

So, a win can take this team to a place where many fans have argued it has long belonged. A loss means many will write off this summer's high points as another example of American soccer over-selling and under-delivering.

We'll see what happens Wednesday afternoon.

Jamie Trecker's newest book, "Love and Blood: At the World Cup with the Footballers, Fans and Freaks" is out now from Harcourt. Jamie is assisted by Jerry and Janice Trecker. Contact Jamie at jamie.trecker@gmail.com and visit his blog and website at www.jamietrecker.com.

The views and opinions expressed by Jamie Trecker do not necessarily reflect those of the Fox Soccer Channel or FoxSoccer.com.