Host Didn’t Get Special Treatment : Opponents: U.S. will have tough time getting into second round.

Considering the United States’ impoverished status in international soccer, the host team’s challenge in the 1994 World Cup would not have been easy no matter which teams it was assigned to play. But U.S. players, coaches and officials all hoped it would be better than this.

“If somebody fixed this for us, I’d like to meet him,” U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola said after the first-round schedules of the 24 teams competing in the June 17-July 17 World Cup were set Sunday in an elaborate ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“He could have done a little better job.”

It quickly became apparent that no favors would be done for the home team when the first team selected to join the United States in the four-team, Pasadena-based Group A was Colombia, and there was little relief for the U.S. delegation when the emerging South American power was followed by Romania and Switzerland.

According to FIFA’s rankings, none of the three is among the world’s elite. Switzerland is 12th, Romania 13th and Colombia 21st. But they all are ahead of the 22nd-ranked United States, and the feeling among U.S. officials is that at least one of them, Colombia, is significantly underrated.

All three teams had impressive results in the World Cup qualification rounds that began in the spring of 1992. That is particularly true of Colombia, which was undefeated in its group and twice defeated 1986 champion and 1990 runner-up Argentina.

Perhaps more relevant for the United States, its cumulative record against its three first-round opponents is 2-11-2.

“It could have been a better draw for us, but it also could have been more difficult,” Meola said. “Any kind of combination wouldn’t be easy because there are too many good teams. I still think we can get through the first round.”

So does U.S. Soccer Federation President Alan Rothenberg, who has predicted a second-round appearance for the United States from the time Bora Milutinovic became the team’s coach in 1991.

In order to achieve that, the United States probably will need to win one game and tie at least one other in the three games against its first-round opponents. The first two teams in each of the six groups and the four other teams with the best records will advance.

“It’s always been my expectation that we will be in the second round, and it remains that way,” Rothenberg said Sunday. “It’s up to Bora.”

The U.S. team’s general manager, Bill Nuttall, also pointed to Milutinovic, considered something of a miracle worker after coaching Costa Rica to the World Cup’s second round in 1990.

“Now that we know our opponents, it’s all tactics and psychology,” Nuttall said. “That’s where Bora is the best.”

Said Milutinovic, asked whether he was happy with the draw: “That’s not a question I can answer. We need to play. Then, I can tell you if I am happy.”

A look at the United States’ first-round opponents:

COLOMBIA

World Cup appearances: 1962, 1990 (second round).

Record in 1994 qualifying: 4-0-2.

All-time record vs. U.S.: 8-1.

Unbeaten in almost two years with a 10-0-9 record, Colombia was the best team in South American qualifying, even more impressive than Brazil, and can contend with any team in the world. “They might be the World Cup favorite at this point,” U.S. sweeper Marcelo Balboa said.

The Colombians’ best-known player is goalkeeper Rene Higuita, the so-called sweeper-keeper who drives his coaches mad with his roving adventures away from the net. But his availability for the World Cup is uncertain because he has been in prison most of this year on kidnaping charges.

ROMANIA

World Cup appearances: 1930, 1934, 1938, 1970, 1990 (second round).

Record in 1994 qualifying: 7-2-1.

All-time record vs. U.S.: 0-1-1.

The United States tied a Romanian team that was at less than full strength, 1-1, last February in Santa Barbara. Was Romania’s coach, Cornel Dinu, impressed? Not exactly. He said the Americans couldn’t beat Romania in a real game “unless they brought paratroopers and tanks.” He also said they needed “100 years to catch up” with the rest of the world in soccer. Asked if he had anything nice to say about them, he said: “Nice uniforms.”

Well, they’re still here, and he’s not. Dinu was fired after Romania lost, 5-2, in a qualifying game against the combined Czech and Slovak team. Under Anghel Iordanescu, Romania won its three remaining qualifying games, including a decisive 2-1 decision at Wales.

The Romanians have one of the world’s most exciting players in midfielder Gheorghe Hagi.

SWITZERLAND

World Cup appearances: 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966.

Record in 1994 qualifying: 6-1-3.

All-time record vs. U.S.: 3-0-1.

Making its first World Cup appearance in 28 years, Switzerland was hardly a European power until an English coach, Roy Hodgson, revived the national team after being hired in 1992.

The Swiss will get a look at the U.S. team in a Jan. 22 exhibition at Fullerton, but the next time the two teams meet will be in their World Cup opener in the Silverdome. Hodgson said his team will not be intimidated by playing indoors against the host team.

World Cup Schedule, 1994

* GROUP A

United States

Romania

Switzerland

Colombia

* GROUP B

Brazil

Cameroon

Russia

Sweden

Sites: Rose Bowl; Palo Alto; Pontiac, Mich.

* GROUP C

Germany

Bolivia

South Korea

Spain

* GROUP D

Argentina

Bulgaria

Greece

Nigeria

Sites: Chicago; Foxboro, Mass.; Dallas

* GROUP E

Italy

Ireland

Mexico

Norway

* GROUP F

Belgium

Morocco

Netherlands

Saudi Arabia

Sites: East Rutherford, N.J.; Orlando, Fla.; Washington

* First Stage

June 1994

Friday, June 17

Germany vs. Bolivia (Site: Chicago)

Spain vs. South Korea (Site: Dallas)

Saturday, June 18

United States vs. Switzerland (Site: Pontiac, Mich.)

Colombia vs. Romania (Site: Rose Bowl)

Italy vs. Ireland (Site: E. Rutherford N.J.)

Sunday, June 19

Belgium vs. Morocco (Site: Orlando, Fla.)

Cameroon vs. Sweden (Site: Rose Bowl)

Norway vs. Mexico (Site: Washington)

Monday, June 20

Brazil vs. Russia (Site) Palo Alto)

Netherlands vs. Saudi Arabia (Washington)

Tuesday, June 21

Germany vs. Spain (Site: Chicago)

Argentina vs. Greece (Site: Foxboro, Mass.)

Nigeria vs. Bulgaria (Site: Dallas)

Wednesday, June 22

United States vs. Colombia (Site: Rose Bowl)

Romania vs. Switzerland (Site: Pontiac, Mich.)

Thursday, June 23

Italy vs. Norway (Site: E. Rutherford, N.J.)

South Korea vs. Bolivia (Site: Foxboro, Mass.)

* Second Stage

July 1994

Saturday, July 2

Group C No. 1 vs. No. 3 TBA (Site: Chicago)

Group A No. 2 vs. Group C No. 2 (Site: Washington)

Sunday, July 3

Group F No. 2 vs. Group B No. 2 (Site: Dallas)

Group A No. 1 vs. No. 3 TBA (Site: Rose Bowl)

Monday, July 4

Group F No. 1 vs. Group E No. 2 (Site: Orlando, Fla.)

Group B No. 1 vs. No. 3 TBA (Site: Palo Alto)

Tuesday, July 5

Group D No. 1 vs. No. 3 TBA (Site: Foxboro, Mass.)

Group E No. 1 vs. Group D No. 2 (Site: E. Rutherford, N.J.)

Saturday, July 9

Quarterfinal (Site: Foxboro, Mass.)

Quarterfinal (Site: Dallas)

Sunday, July 10

Quarterfinal (Site: E. Rutherford, N.J.)

Quarterfinal (Site: Palo Alto)

* Third Stage

July 1994

Wednesda, July 13

Semifinal (Site: E. Rutherford, N.J.)

Semifinal (Site: Rose Bowl)

Saturday, July 16

Third Place (Site: Rose Bowl)

Sunday, July 16

Final (Site: Rose Bowl)