They both were born and grew up in Trinidad & Tobago.
They both played for NCAA Division I men's champions from the Big East, Sancho for St. John's in 1996 and Rahim for the University of Connecticut just this past December.
And they both have dreams of playing in the World Cup -- "a once in a lifetime chance," Rahim said.
Both also are prepared to not play in Major League Soccer if it means an opportunity to help their national team reach soccer's promised land.
In fact, Rahim, a midfielder, is prepared to forgo this season with the Los Angeles Galaxy, which picked him in the fifth round of the SuperDraft last week.
"I always wanted to get into... MLS," Rahim said. "Obviously I am trying to keep my options open to see if I can get something overseas in Europe. So I'm going to put that off right now. I have not spoken to the coach yet. After the Jamaica game [qualifier on Feb. 28], I intend to speak with him and see how things work out."
He would love to play in England, where a number of Trinidad players perform.
"It's always a problem getting a work permit [in England]," he said. "The only way I get a work permit is if I play for the senior squad."
Trinidad is scheduled to play West Ham and the Cayman Islands here in London before visiting Jamaica for its first final round CONCACAF qualifier on Feb. 28.
"If things work out well in this campaign, then I'll be back in England," he said.
One thing is certain -- Rahim, a finalist for the Hermann Trophy (soccer's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy), won't be back for the spring semester at UConn.
"We have a great chance of making the World Cup," he said. "I want to be a part of it, even if I don't play a minute. Going to the World Cup is something special. If I have to put off school for a semester, that would be the best thing for me. It's a once in a lifetime chance. My eligibility is up now. I won my championship."
Sancho, a defender, said that the Miami Fusion has expressed interest in him, but he was uncertain whether he wants to split his energies between club and country. Most of the qualifiers will held be during the MLS season.
"The campaign will be long," he said. "It's going to be hard in MLS having to go back and forth at the height of World Cup qualifying. It won't be fair to Miami and it won't be fair to Trinidad."
Sancho, who was so close to signing with the MetroStars last year that he was featured in their media guide, said he has tried out with several English second division teams. He wouldn't say which clubs.
"Hopefully, they are impressed," he said.
On a cold and crisp Tuesday night, Sancho played the entire 90 minutes of Trinidad's loss to English Premiership club Charlton Athletic, featuring a side made up of first-team players, players returning from injuries and reserves. Trinidad did not have its full team, missing key players such as Manchester United star Dwight Yorke.
"It was the first time we got back together as a team," Sancho said. "There were some bumps and bruises we need to straighten out.
"The team is playing well. We just need to jell together with the foreign-based players. That's what we wanted to [do]. That's why we had less communication on a couple of goals tonight."
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