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The Sports Network
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The United States Men's National Team will be
heading to Florida for two crucial matches in the coming months, it was
announced Wednesday.
The U.S. Soccer Federation revealed that Jurgen Klinsmann's men will face
Scotland in a friendly match on May 26 in Jacksonville at EverBank Field
before kicking off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Antigua and
Barbuda on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
"Jacksonville has an amazing facility and is the perfect place for us to begin
our important summer schedule," said Klinsmann. "We are excited to bring the
U.S. National Team back to a part of the country we haven't visited in many
years. It's fantastic that we can continue to give fans in different parts of
the country the chance to share in the journey.
"Our focus since last summer has been to prepare this team for World Cup
qualifying, and we are thrilled that we can start the process in Tampa. It's
critical that we start qualifying off on the right foot, so to be in a place
where the team has had such great support is a huge positive for us. The
players always talk about how great the surface is at Raymond James Stadium,
so overall we think it is the ideal venue."
The United States has played Scotland six times in its history, posting a
1-3-2 record. The last meeting between the two sides came on U.S. soil in
preparation for the 1998 World Cup. They played to a scoreless draw in
Washington, D.C.
Antigua and Barbuda, which dominated Group F qualifying play by a combined
score of 25-3, will be facing the U.S. for the first time when they square off
in June. The United States is seeking qualification for its seventh straight
World Cup.
The Sports Network