The U.S. national team can clinch its sixth straight World Cup berth with a win over Honduras Oct. 10. Although Donovan is quick to point out that the USA can still secure a spot if it doesn't beat Honduras, he says that he doesn't want "to leave that to chance."

"We've all been in games where you just pummel a team for 90 minutes and they sneak a goal somehow and they end up winning," Donovan added. "It's not easy. We're going to go with the mentality that this the game we need to win. If not, it's going to be a little hectic, a little pressure-packed."

The U.S. team has experienced numerous frustrations on the road this year, going winless its first three qualifying games before squeaking out a 1-0 win at Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 9. But Donovan says that such away experiences have served as good learning experiences for a young squad. "Sometimes you get frustrated and you want us to handle things more maturely, but then you realize what we're dealing with," he said. "The hope is that we're learning a lot, we can still get through qualifying, and when the World Cup comes we're better for it."