WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : SPOTLIGHT : MAYBE SOME ROOMS IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

Washington is a popular destination in the summer, but not for Switzerland’s soccer team.

If the Swiss had beaten Colombia on Sunday at Palo Alto and won Group A, they would have played their second-round game in Los Angeles. Instead, they will play either Spain or Bolivia in the capital next Saturday.

“Exactly what we did not want,” said Guido Cornella, the Swiss soccer federation’s first vice president, complaining that the team will have to adjust to the time change and the humidity in Washington.

There is one other inconvenience.

“I’m going to Washington tomorrow (Monday) because our preliminary hotel reservations have fallen through,” Cornella said.