USA to host final World Cup qualifier of round in Jacksonville
The U.S. men's national team will play its final World Cup qualifying match of CONCACAF's semifinal round at Jacksonville's EverBank Field, U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday.
The match, against Trinidad & Tobago, takes place on September 6 and could play a decisive role in determining whether the U.S. advances to the final round hexagonal, depending on how results before then unfold. The U.S. takes on Guatemala Tuesday night in a match that the Americans cannot afford to draw or lose following Friday's loss in Guatemala–the first to Los Chapines since 1988. The U.S. has qualified for every World Cup since 1990.
The 2016 schedule took even more shape with the confirmation by U.S. Soccer of pre-Copa America friendlies against Ecuador and Bolivia. As SI's Grant Wahl had previously reported, the U.S. will play Ecuador at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on May 25 and Bolivia at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on May 28, prior to opening Copa America against Colombia at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 3.
As it stands, the following matches are on the 2016 calendar for the men's national team:
March 29 - World Cup qualifier vs. Guatemala, Mapfre Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
May 25 - Friendly vs. Ecuador, Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas
May 28 - Friendly vs. Bolivia, Children's Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas
June 3 - Copa America Centenario vs. Colombia, Levi's Stadium; Santa Clara, California
June 7 - Copa America Centenario vs. Costa Rica, Soldier Field; Chicago
June 11 - Copa America Centenario vs. Paraguay, Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia
Sept. 2 - World Cup qualifier at St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sept. 6 - World Cup qualifier vs. Trinidad & Tobago, EverBank Field; Jacksonville, Florida
