by Tim Stannard (@StannardSports)

GUATEMALA 2 USA 0 

Before the game

The US faces an easy-on-paper, tough-on-grass clash against Guatemala 

The mission for Jurgen Klinsmann's men looks simple enough - take a team of the USA's finest players to a country ranked 65 places below them in the FIFA table, win and return to American shores covered in glory and ticker-tape.

The problem is that CONCACAF region generally rules out such possibilities with some uncomfortable match-ups, in testing conditions and iffy refereeing that cancels out any footballing advantage that visitors may possess. 

Friday's match against Guatemala - the first of a double-header - fits that soccer bucket with Klinsmann prepared for a battle-and-a-half from opponents that have already chalked up one win from two in a competitive Group C.  

It doesn't help that this is not a US squad that is travelling to Central American full of confidence and vim following a poor Gold Cup and a failure in the Confederations Cup play-off against Mexico. There are open questions being raised across the starting line-up from whether Tim Howard should be back between the pipes to who should start up front. And the German coach of the USMNT does not have a lot of credit in the bank to allow further experimentation. 

Prediction - A narrow win for the US. But it is going to be a heck of a scrap 

CAMEROON 2 SOUTH AFRICA 2 

Before the game

South Africa in must-win clash against a "spitting fire" Cameroon 

Unlike the Ivory Coast's current crumbling form, there are no such problems for another regional superpower, with Cameroon having picked up maximum points in Group M with 1-0 wins over Mauritania and Gambia.

The same cannot be said for very fallen giants, South Africa, despite new Cameroon boss, Hugo Broos, reminding the world that the Bafana Bafana remain dangerous, especially as he is has a squad for the two clashes missing key players through injury and suspension. 

South Africa have picked up just the single point in their group, and will probably need to win both of the upcoming clashes against Cameroon to have a chance of qualifying for the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon. "It's going to be a war," warns South Africa manager, Shakes Mashaba, who expects a Cameroon side to be "spitting fire" despite playing under a brand new manager. 

Prediction - Further worrying woes for South Africa with another win for Cameroon 

Ecuador 2 - Paraguay 2 

Before the match:

The surprise package of South America looks to maintain perfect record at the top  

Leicester City-itis has spread all the way to South America: the incredible physical transformation that sees previously weedy willows sitting astride a league table like Captain America on spinach and waving at the flailing big boys below. 

Ecuador are the local heroes on this side of The Pond with Carlos Quinteros’ men at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup 2016 qualification group with four wins from four, seven points ahead of Argentina and with eight on Colombia. With just four-and-half spots going to the South American federation, a couple of very big cheeses will be sweating profusely in their football pantries over the race to reach Russia in 2018.

Aside from having a nicely-balanced squad topped off by the goals of Espanyol's Felipe Caicedo, Ecuador are almost invincible at home. That might have something to do with opting to play their matches in Quito at nearly 10,000 feet up, the cruising altitude of some airliners. 

Ecuador have lost just three World Cup qualification matches at home over the past 35 games, and will fancy their chances of continuing that record against a Paraguay team that are currently in fourth in the standings, causing their own ripples of disruption in the CONMEBOL group. 

Prediction - Ecuador to pile further pressure on the group's under-performers with a win over Paraguay

Chile 1 - Argentina 2

Before the match:

A new-look Chile takes on an Argentina with the same old expectations 

If anyone says there is a bigger game going on in the world this week, then their pants will be very much on fire. This one is huge. HUGE! 

Not only is it a rematch of last year's Copa America final, which saw Argentina losing out to Chile after a penalty shoot-out, but it is the first game for the current regional champions without inspirational manager, Jorge Sampaoli, in charge, after the Argentinean left his post in January. 

The new man on the bench, Juan Antonio Pizzi, possesses the finest curled mullet on the planet and has extensive coaching experience across South America and also a brief stint at Valencia. However, this will be Pizzi's first go in charge of an international team. 

The Argentinean-Spaniard is up against his native country in Santiago, in a true baptism of fire. The visitors are welcoming Leo Messi back to the fold after missing out the last gaggle of matches through injury, along with the Serie A men-of-the-moment, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala. 

Like a T-bone atop the Eiffel Tower, the stakes are very high indeed for both teams with just one win from four in the qualifying group leaving Argentina in sixth, and Pizzi not wanting to have the Chilean crowd looking back to fondly on the days of Sampaoli. 

Prediction - With necessity being the mother of invention and all that, Argentina to grab an away win 

Ivory Coast 1 Sudan 0

Before the Match 

The Elephants of Ivory Coast face battle for survival against Sudan 

The pressure is already on Ivory Coast as the qualification of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations sashays into round three. With just two points from the side's opening clashes against Gabon and Sierra Leon - and without a single goal scored - the current AFCON holders are in danger of failing to qualify for next year's African festival of football. 

Friday's seismic meeting against Sudan, currently second in the group and ahead of the Ivory Coast, is one of fifty games across a hectic week on the continent. However, the country's most important talisman, Yaya Toure, will be missing for the double-header, where six points are a must if the Ivory Coast want to avoid another round of draining qualification matches or complete elimination. "We want to keep our destiny in our own hands," admitted manger, Michel Dussuyer, ahead of the Sudanese showdown. 

There is still more than enough talent in the team, despite the absence of Toure and the international retirement of Didier Drogba, with EPL stars, Max Gradel of Bournemouth and Manchester City's Wilfried Bony, along with Gervinho, now in the Chinese League. 

Prediction - Ivory Coast to give qualifying campaign a kick-start with victory in Abidjan