2010 World Cup Qualifiers More articles: On the Road to the World Cup 2010 México lindo y querido (August 2009) Fútbol Fanatics(July 2009) Reliving the Maracanazo (July 2009) Getting Life Out of a Kick (June/July 2006) Play Virtual Soccer More in Sports

Soccer drama played out across the world as teams from Europe, Asia, and Africa duked it out for one of the 32 precious slots to play in the 2010 World Cup, arguably the most prestigious sporting event in the world. The Americas were no exception. Fanáticos from North, Central, and South America roared in excitement and cried in defeat during the summer and fall of 2009 as 16 national teams battled for eight spots in the World Cup to be played in South Africa.

Mexico's El Tri, once a soccer powerhouse, struggled so badly that during one game the manager kicked an opposing player. Argentina's Albicelestes, managed by legend Diego Maradona, came under fire following a humiliating 6–1 loss at the hands of lowly Bolivia. And the Catrachos of Honduras fought—against the odds and in the midst of a serious political crisis in the country—to qualify for their first World Cup tournament in nearly 30 years.

Rabid fans from Buenos Aires to Guadalajara to New York watched and obsessed over every match and every play. With national pride on the line, the rivalries between teams—United States/Mexico, Argentina/Chile, Honduras/El Salvador—run deep. There's no "wait 'til next year" consolation because failure to qualify means waiting four more years for another opportunity.

But failure hasn't robbed frantic fan Dr. Salvador Morote, 55, of his passion. Despite the early elimination of his homeland team, Peru, its last-place finish in South America, and its absence from the World Cup since 1982, the Chicago clinical psychologist still keeps close tabs on the competition. "I watch Peru knowing that I'll experience pain. And I say, 'It will always be my home team, like my family. What can I do?'" says Morote, who was a professional soccer player in Peru during the 1970s. That soft spot transfers to other underdog teams: "I love to see the upsets, when teams like Paraguay and Chile and Honduras can do well and get to the World Cup." He believes Spain, which has never won a World Cup, will be tough to beat in South Africa. "They are playing very polished, intelligent, exciting soccer, and they have displayed great sportsmanship," he says. "I want with all my heart to see them win."

Indeed, one of the few "sure things" in qualifying for the World Cup was Spain. Led by an exciting young generation of players, including strikers Fernando "El Niño" Torres and David "El Guaje" Villa, Spain lived up to the hype and remained undefeated through ten matches in Europe. La Furia Roja, as the team is known, is one of the favorites to lift the coveted championship trophy in Johannesburg next July 11.

In North and Central America, the United States and Mexico were expected to qualify with ease, while the other automatic spot was a tossup among the four remaining teams in the region. Led by captain Carlos Bocanegra, the United States powered its way through the competition, though the team suffered a blow when rising star Charlie Davies was critically injured in a car wreck near Washington, D.C., just before the team's final qualifying game.

2010 World Cup Qualifiers North/Central America: Honduras, Mexico, United States South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay Europe: Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa Asia/Oceania: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea

Mexico was another story.  Early in 2009, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was fired and replaced by Javier Aguirre. Soon after, Aguirre was suspended for three games for kicking a Panamanian player during a game. But Aguirre's passion revived the team. He brought in veteran striker Cuauhtémoc Blanco (he'll be 37 years old at the Cup—ancient by soccer standards) who led the team's late surge to secure a place among the elite in South Africa.

The third and final qualifying spot in the region turned out to be a battle between Honduras and Costa Rica, with Honduras barely edging out Los Ticos, thanks to the goals of all-time leading scorer Carlos Pavón. Honduras's triumph provided a rare moment of national unity in a country divided by a military coup over the summer. The streets of Tegucigalpa erupted in celebration as the Catrachos made it to their first World Cup since 1982.

Myrna Hall-Alvarez of San Luis, Arizona, gathered with her brothers and sisters and their 83-year-old mother to see if Honduras would qualify. When their beloved Catrachos won a place, "we all hit the ceiling," she says.

"I've lived in this country 40 years, but Honduras will always be my team," says the 61-year-old retired accounts processor. "To see them win and qualify for the World Cup was one of the most satisfying moments of my life."

South American qualification provided plenty of drama too. Brazil, ranked number one in the world, breezed through. Chile will go to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and Paraguay also secured a spot. The big question was whether Argentina, loaded with superstars such as Lionel Messi, a sublimely talented winger rated by many as the world's best player, would make it. The Argentinean press savaged the squad's poor play, but the team eked out a spot. Manager Maradona blasted his critics in a press conference: "This is for those who did not believe in the national team and treated me like dirt."

Uruguay defeated Costa Rica in a tense November playoff to secure the final spot from the Americas. The Uruguayans are hoping they can beat the odds to win the world championship for the first time since 1950, when they famously upset Brazil in the tournament final in Rio de Janeiro.

Finally, the stage is set for South Africa 2010. Will Spain finally overcome its reputation as tournament choker and win its first-ever World Cup? Can Argentina and Maradona overcome a rocky start to win the country's third World Cup? Will the United States shake off the disappointment of its first-round failure in the 2006 tournament to finally make its mark on the world stage?

Jorge Ramos, a soccer sportscaster for ESPN Deportes and AARP's Hispanic Ambassador, tips toward Spain as one of the favorites to win the tournament, but he's hedging his bets. He thinks Brazil, England, Italy, or Argentina could come out on top. "Spain has what may be their greatest team ever," says Ramos, who is Uruguayan and lives in South Florida. "They're going to have to show that they have the fighting spirit of champions."

Ramos is considerably less sanguine about the chances of North American teams. The play of the United States is too predictable, and the team lacks the talent to pull off major upsets, he says. And Mexico's struggles during qualifying make Ramos doubt El Tri's potential to go beyond the first round. However, if there's one rule of the World Cup, it is to expect the unexpected. "The door is always open for surprises," Ramos says.

Morote will be among the millions watching if there is a surprise. He even plans to schedule patients around the tournament: "I don't intend to miss a single game."