The US solidified their lead in the final phase of qualifying for North and Central America and the Caribbean, with seven points from three matches.
But Mexico fell 3-1 at Honduras — their second defeat in three matches — as their struggles away from home continued and left them stuck on three points.
Altidore, 19, became the youngest US player to score an international hat-trick, with goals in the 13th, 71st and 89th minutes. He eclipsed the mark for youngest hat-trick set in 2004, when 20-year-old Eddie Johnson.
In San Jose, Walter Centeno’s header in the 69th minute lifted Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over El Salvador that left Costa Rica alone in second place on six points.
■ASIA
AFP, MANAMA AND RIYADH
Bahrain defeated Qatar 1-0 in Manama on Wednesday and forced Australia to wait a little longer to secure their ticket to the 2010 World Cup finals.
The Socceroos had earlier defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in Sydney to go back to the top of Asian zone Group A and would have become the first nation to qualify for the finals had this clash between the two Gulf neighbors ended in a draw.
Bahrain are now third in the table with seven points. Australia top the group with 13 points while Japan, who did not play on Wednesday, are second with 11. Uzbekistan and Qatar are on four points.
The top two teams will qualify for the finals with the third-placed side facing a play-off against the third team in Group B with the winner of that clash taking on New Zealand.
Saudi Arabia boosted their chances of making a fifth successive World Cup finals with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the United Arab Emirates in Riyadh.
The Saudis are in third place in Asian zone Group B with 10 points level with North Korea, who lost 1-0 to South Korea, who lead the table with 11 points, in Seoul earlier in the day.
Also See: North Korea wanted match moved
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