U.S. women prepare to open World Cup qualifying

On the surface, World Cup qualifying for the U.S. women’s soccer team looks like an easy ride. The team has been ranked No. 1 in the world for the past five years going into the CONCACAF championship, an eight-team tournament with three spots in next year’s World Cup in Canada up for grabs. Back in 2010 they were also the heavy favorites heading into qualifying. And then they got stunned by Mexico. At the World Cup in Germany the next year, the United States fell to Japan in the final on penalty kicks. Forward Alex Morgan says the team isn’t going to take any chances when it opens play today against Trinidad and Tobago. – AP