The United States Soccer Federation has announced the locations for the upcoming World Cup qualifying semi-final matches against Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guatemala - assuming those teams advance out of their second round matches that begin this June.
Of course the Americans must also win their home-and-away second round series against CONCACAF minnow Barbados to even advance to the semi-finals. That series starts with the opening game on June 15th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California and wraps up when they travel to the Caribbean nation seven days late for the return leg.
Should the Americans advance as expected, US Soccer has announced that they'll host the 2008 qualifications matches in Washington DC, and just outside Chicago and Denver, Colorado.
The first home qualifier would be played on September 10th at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois - just outside of Chicago - against the winner of the Trinidad & Tobago-Bermuda series. It would be the first time in the long history of US Soccer that a FIFA World Cup qualifier is being held in the Chicago area, which ironically enough is the home base for the federation.
One month and a day after the opening home game the Red, White and Blue would face either Cuba or Antigua & Barbuda at RFK Stadium. The aging stadium in the nation's capital holds a special place in US Soccer's heart with their overall 3-1-1 record in qualification matches.
The final home game of the semi-final round would be held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park which is located just outside Denver in Commerce City, Colorado. In that game the Americans would be tackling either Guatemala or St. Lucia on November 19th.
Before qualification begins, Bob Bradley's team will play road exhibition games at Wembley Stadium against England on May 28th and in Spain a week later before returning home to face Argentina, the top ranked team in the world, on Sunday, June 8th in East Rutherford, New Jersey. |
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