MEXICO CITY -- Mexico became the 25th country to qualify for next year's World Cup, beating Honduras 3-0 Sunday to claim the final berth from soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco put Mexico ahead in the 65th minute, Francisco Palencia added a goal in the 74th and Blanco converted a penalty kick in the 78th.

Mexico (5-3-2) recovered from a 1-3-1 start in the regional finals to qualify for its third straight World Cup. Honduras (4-4-2) needed a win Sunday while Mexico needed only a tie.

Costa Rica and the United States already had clinched the region's other berths.