CHICAGO (October 15, 2007) – Six months prior to the start of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team will play its first match of 2008 when they face Sweden on Saturday, Jan. 19, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., at 5:30 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel. Fans can also follow the game live via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.
Tickets ranging in price levels from $18 to $55 and special edition U.S. Soccer on-field seats for $150
go on sale to the public Thursday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. PT through ussoccer.com, by phone (213-480-3232 in L.A.; 714-740-2000 in Orange County; 619-220-8497 in San Diego), at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Southern California (including Macy's, Wherehouse Music, FYE and Ritmo Latino), and at The Home Depot Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) Groups of 20 or more can obtain a group order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (a special VIP package which includes a premium ticket, a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with your name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits), are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. PT, U.S. supporters groups, including Sam's Army, will be able to purchase special supporters section tickets through ussoccer.com using the password RED.
As a special benefit to Visa cardholders, a Visa-only pre-sale will be held beginning Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. PT until Thursday, Oct. 18, at 8 a.m. at ussoccer.com. Visa, the preferred payment card of U.S. Soccer, is the only payment method accepted for this advance sale opportunity.
"The match against Sweden is a great way to kick off an important year for us," said U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley. "As we have seen, Sweden is a quality team. It will pose a good test for our players as we continue the process of preparing for World Cup qualifying."
The U.S. is slated to begin its quest to qualify for a sixth-consecutive FIFA World Cup in June, and will learn its qualifying schedule on Nov. 25, 2007, when the Preliminary Draw is held in Durban, South Africa. The Sweden match will be the first time Bradley has his team on the field in 2008 as he enters his second year at the helm.
Sweden, currently ranked No. 20 in the world, has competed in 11 World Cup finals, highlighted by a second-place finish in the 1958 tournament and a third-place finish in USA ’94. In 2006, they advanced out of Group B along with England before falling in the Round of 16 to hosts Germany. Sweden is currently competing in qualifying for the 2008 European Championship.
The USA and Sweden have met five times previously. The U.S. trails in the series, 2-3-0, after
falling 1-0 in the last meeting on Aug. 22, 2007, in Goteberg, Sweden. The teams last met on U.S. soil more than nine years ago, when the U.S. grabbed a 1-0 victory on Jan. 24, 1998, in Orlando, Fla., on the strength of a Roy Wegerle finish.
The U.S. is making its sixth visit to The Home Depot Center for a match, carrying a 2-0-1 record. Last year, the
U.S. topped Denmark 3-1 on Jan. 20 at The HDC on goals by Landon Donovan, Jonathan Bornstein and Kenny Cooper.
Next up for the U.S. Men in 2007 is their penultimate game of the year, as the U.S. faces Switzerland on Wed., Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision. Fans can also follow along live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.
Did you know?