Bruce Arena: U.S. immigration policy motivates opponents

President Donald Trump's controversial immigration policy is making Bruce Arena's life as United States men's national team manager a little harder.

Arena believes rivals in CONCACAF World Cup qualification - including Tuesday's opponent Honduras - are spurred on by the contentious initiatives that impact their region, and are therefore producing more impassioned performances against the USMNT.

"Our immigration policies are impacting people in Central America, right?" Arena said, as reported by ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle. "And there's probably a little bit of anger over that.

"Then your national sport gets a chance to play the U.S. - I'm sure that becomes very meaningful."

The USMNT has suffered some notable losses against Central American counties in the Hex stage of qualification. Arena's predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann oversaw defeats to Mexico and Costa Rica around Trump's November inauguration, and then Arena dealt with the first loss of his second U.S. spell when Costa Rica won the return fixture in New Jersey on Friday.

Arena is aware of how sports can act as a catalyst for change, but made light of a reporter suggesting his squad could help the United States unite during political turmoil.

"So you want us to win a World Cup, bring the country together, walk on water?" he quipped. "What else do you want us to do?"

Arena added: "We'll get to that at the right time. Let's see if we can win a couple of games now to close out this year and maybe go to a World Cup - and then solve all of the world's problems at that point."

If Honduras - perhaps battle-hardened by reading some of Trump's divisive policies before taking the pitch - beats the U.S. on Tuesday, wins in the final two matches against Panama and Trinidad and Tobago may still not be enough for Arena's lot to automatically qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.