Guadeloupe won't participate in the World Cup, but it's not because its players don't measure up well against the planet's best.

The team from the tiny Caribbean island seeks to make a statement when it meets Costa Rica, the leader in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings, in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. It is the first official sporting event at the Cowboys' new home.

Guadeloupe reached the Gold Cup semifinals in 2007, its first participation in the tournament. It was eliminated by Mexico. It was the first time that a Caribbean nation had advanced so far in the Cup since Trinidad and Tobago in 2000.

"What they did two years ago didn't happen because of luck," coach Roger Salnot said. "We were an unknown team, but we knew we had quality players."

Salnot said Guadeloupe counts on players who participate in some of the best professional leagues in Europe, including France, the English Premier League, Netherlands and Sweden.

It's enough talent to form a World Cup contender. But FIFA, soccer's organizing body, does not recognize Guadeloupe because it is a region of France.

Some players joke that they would be World Cup champions if only they had the chance.

The tiny island and its 451,000 inhabitants has been a feeder for teams in France and elsewhere in Europe. An indirect example is Barcelona star forward Thierry Henry, whose father is from Guadeloupe.

Salnot explained that many natives of Guadeloupe sought better opportunities in France in the 1960s. In the process, they provided a generation of soccer talent for the French.

"As for the World Cup, it's a matter of players deciding between France or Guadeloupe," Salnot said. "A lot of players make the move to France because they can earn more."

CONCACAF recognized Guadeloupe on the condition that it use players who are natives or whose parents are natives of the island. Players must also have not played for the French national team.

U.S. team loses players: The United States will play short-handed in today's CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal against Panama.

Four of the 23 players on the original U.S. roster have returned to their European clubs: forwards Charlie Davies (Sochaux) and Freddy Adu (Benfica) and defenders Steve Cherundolo (Hannover) and Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaellands).

In addition, midfielder Benny Feilhaber has gone back to Aarhus after playing for the U.S. in the first round. Feilhaber was among seven additions to the original U.S. roster allowed by CONCACAF because the Americans headed to the Gold Cup immediately after the Confederations Cup.

None of the additional players will play today, team spokesman Michael Kammarman said. The winner plays Canada or Honduras in the semifinals.

The U.S. is seeking its third straight Gold Cup title.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Caribbean island, located southeast of Puerto Rico, is one of 26 regions of France.

Currency: Euro

Area: 629 square miles

Population: 451,000

Languages: French, Creole

Capital: Basse-Terre

Of note: Christopher Columbus "discovered" pineapples in Guadeloupe during his second voyage to the Americas, although the fruit had already been cultivated in South America.