Linc game a showpiece for World Cup hopes
As the United States stages a final tune-up for this year's World Cup, Philadelphia will attempt to show FIFA, soccer's international governing body, that it can be a suitable host for the sport's biggest event.
As the United States stages a final tune-up for this year's World Cup, Philadelphia will attempt to show FIFA, soccer's international governing body, that it can be a suitable host for the sport's biggest event.
The ambitions of the U.S. national team and the city will be intertwined May 29 when the Americans meet Turkey in a 2 p.m. matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
It was also announced yesterday that the United States would face the Czech Republic on May 25 at a site to be determined.
The Philadelphia match will be the final one for the United States on home soil before the team departs for the World Cup, in South Africa. The Americans meet England in their opening World Cup game, on June 12.
"It's exciting for all of us, playing a send-off game in Philadelphia," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said by videotape at a news conference at the NovaCare Complex.
Among those attending were Mayor Nutter; Eagles president Joe Banner; Sunil Gulati, president and chairman of the U.S. Soccer Federation; and Union president Tom Veit, who also is president of the USA Bid Committee for the World Cup.
More important than a single game is that the United States is seeking to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Philadelphia is among 18 cities in the running for games.
FIFA will have the final say on the venues.
Gulati said yesterday that from nine to 12 cities would host World Cup games if the U.S. efforts were to succeed. In December, FIFA will announce the host countries for 2018 and 2022.
The other U.S. cities under consideration are Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Miami; Nashville; New York; Phoenix; San Diego; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington.
The Union will play their first two MLS games this spring at Lincoln Financial Field before moving into their soccer-specific stadium in Chester on June 27.
Watch video highlights of yesterday's news conference on Philly.com's soccer blog, The Goalkeeper: http://go.philly.com/tgk.
EndText