Bermuda are poised to take an April trip to Central America to prepare for the hostile reception they are sure to receive when they take their World Cup dream to El Salvador.

The soccer-mad South and Central American fans are notorious for their high-running passion which can often spill over into intimidating tactics on and off the field.

And there will be no better way for Kenny Thompson's men to prepare for the June visit to San Salvador than a trip to take on local opposition ? and give the Bermudians a chance to sample the cauldron-like atmosphere, the high altitude and the facilities available in the region.

Bermuda Football Association confirmed yesterday they had received two invitations to take on Central American nations although were unwilling to name the countries.

Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala would have to be the favourites to receive Bermuda, where BFA general secretary David Sabir confirmed Thompson's men would like to play up to "three of four matches".

Sabir also told the BFA were looking to invite a Caribbean nation to the Island in May for at least one more friendly ahead of the clashes with El Salvador scheduled for back-to-back weekends on June 12/13, down in Central America, and 19/20 at the National Stadium.

"We have put the feelers out worldwide to try and line up opposition for warm-up games ahead of the El Salvador clash and we are making significant progress," said Sabir.

"We cannot confirm anything at this stage in terms of exact dates or opposition. But it would be fair to say we are looking to set up as many games as possible against suitable opposition to best prepare ourselves for the El Salvador games.

"Given the nature of our opponents, it is especially important to give the team the best possible exposure to what conditions they can expect when they travel to El Salvador which is why we are so seriously considering games in Central America."

Of course Bermuda still have to deal with the second leg against Montserrat on March 21, a match which should be no more than a formal target practice session with Thompson's men holding a 13-0 lead from Sunday's massacre.

Meanwhile, FIFA have drawn out the teams for the next stage of qualifying, scheduled to take place between August and November this year, with Bermuda likely to find themselves in a group with the USA, Panama and Jamaica if they can defy the odds and advance past El Salvador.

The semi-final stages see three groups of four go head to head in home and away games with the top two sides then advancing to a final group of six ? and from that the top three will go through to Germany 2006 with the fourth-placed side taking on Asia's fifth best team in a play-off.

Bermuda's group will include the winner of Grenada or Guyana and the USA, BVI or St. Lucia and Panama and the winner of Haiti against Jamaica.

But Sabir refused to talk about the semi-final draw, describing any discussion before Bermuda's two-legged clash with El Salvador as "an exercise in futility".