Ching to join U.S. soccer team

MIAMI » The U.S. soccer team concluded five days of training yesterday and was looking forward to the arrival of members who couldn't participate in preparations for the team's World Cup qualifiers this week.

Coach Bob Bradley has been forced to run practices without such key players as Landon Donovan, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley and Kamehameha product Brian Ching because of other commitments.

First up is a match Wednesday in San Jose, Costa Rica, where the U.S. has never beaten or tied the home team in five visits. After that the Americans will host Honduras in Chicago in another qualifier on Saturday, and then it's off to South Africa to compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Ching was expected to join the team yesterday.