The U.S. Men’s National Team will return to Crew Stadium on Sept. 11 to host Jamaica in the second home match of Semifinal Round CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Kickoff in Columbus, where the U.S. has never lost, is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN3 and the Univision family of networks. Fans can also follow on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The United States will begin their World Cup qualifying campaign June 8 against Antigua & Barbuda at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Semifinal Round opener kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, with live coverage on ESPN, ESPN3 and the Univision family of networks.
“Hosting the U.S. National Team is always an honor and a privilege, and World Cup Qualifying matches are particularly exciting,” said Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers. “Being in the middle of Semifinal Round, the match is assured of being an important one in the U.S.’s qualifying campaign and we will be focused on delivering the kind of large, passionate crowd Crew Stadium has become known for.”
U.S. MNT in Columbus:
- The U.S. holds an unbeaten all-time record of 5-0-3 at Crew Stadium dating back to 2000
- Crew Stadium has hosted six World Cup qualifiers, with the U.S. collecting four wins and two draws
- The U.S. has surrendered only one goal in eight matches in Columbus, outscoring opponents 12-1 in that span
- Columbus was the site of the last USA-Jamaica meeting in World Cup qualifying, a 1-1 draw on Nov. 17, 2004, in the final match of the semifinal phase
- The stadium has hosted the USA’s home qualifier against Mexico in the Final Round for the last three consecutive World Cup qualifying cycles, with the United States collecting identical 2-0 scorelines in 2001, 2005 and 2009.
USA-Jamaica:
- The United States has never lost to Jamaica, collecting a 10-0-8 record dating back to 1988
- On U.S. soil, the record stands at 8-0-3
- Interestingly, the teams have drawn six times out of the eight meetings in World Cup qualifying. The U.S. has won two and tied two in home qualifying encounters
- One of the most famous victories in World Cup qualifying history for the United States came Oct. 7, 2001, when two goals from Joe-Max Moore would lead the U.S. to a 2-1 win that, combined with an unlikely series of results, booked the USA’s ticket to the 2002 FIFA World Cup
“Playing a World Cup qualifier in Columbus makes perfect sense, from the quality of the venue to the amazing history the U.S. team has at Columbus Crew Stadium,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “The support of the home crowd for these qualifiers can be a big positive for the team, and the fans in Columbus have shown time and time again how much they appreciate the National Team. I have always heard how great a host Columbus is for these games, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself.”
Guatemala joins Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica and the United States in Group A. Each opponent will meet twice, once at home and once away, in round robin play. The top two teams from each of three groups will advance to the Final Round of qualifying, which will take place in 2013. Three teams will automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth place team will play in a two-leg playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.
The U.S. will play a series of friendlies in preparation for the start of qualifying, first meeting Scotland on May 26 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be shown live on the NBC Sports Network in the channel’s debut broadcast of a U.S. National Team game, as well as the Univision family of networks. Following the match against Scotland, the U.S. continues its competition against the world’s top teams when it hosts five-time World Cup-champion Brazil on May 30, in Landover, Md. Kickoff for the USA’s first ever match at FedExField is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN3 and Univision.
Located adjacent to the Ohio Expo Center, Crew Stadium is a 20,145-seat facility with the ability to hold up to 35,000 for concerts, that features a permanent main stage and roof structure. It is home to the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer and is a target destination for other marquee sports and entertainment events including U.S. Soccer matches, NFL exhibitions, NCAA soccer and concerts.
