[USA 23] The U.S. national team arrived at its World Cup home for at least the next three weeks on Monday following a 17-hour flight from Washington and Johannesburg via Dakar. The security was tight but the welcome warm.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley was happy to be back in South Africa for the national team's third trip during his tenure as national team coach. The USA played South Africa in a friendly in November 2007 and finished second at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

"We're very fortunate that we have had experience here," Bradley said on the airport tarmac. "The people here in South Africa have always treated us so well, so in that regard, it's a comfortable feeling to be back for the World Cup."

The Americans are staying at the Irene Country Lodge, in the village of Irene between Johannesburg and the capital of Pretoria -- sites of their second and third games.

They were greeted to a short ceremony involving singing and dancing.

The players were offered fruit and beverages at the reception and a vuvuzela — the noisy plastic trumpet South African fans use — was left in each player's room.

The USA is the fifth team to arrive in South Africa.

It meets Australia, the first team to arrive, in a friendly on Saturday at Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort (TV: ESPN2, 8:30 a.m. ET).