U.S. Men to host Jamaica for World Cup qualifier at Crew Stadium in Ohio on Sept. 11
The U.S. Men’s National Team will host Jamaica in the second home match of Semifinal Round CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup at Crew Stadium on Sept. 11 in Columbus, Ohio.
Kickoff at the venue, 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. 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.
“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 in a press release.
“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.”
The U.S. holds an unbeaten all-time record of 5-0-3 at Crew Stadium dating back to 2000, allowing only one goal in those eight matches. The home of the MLS’ Columbus Crew has hosted six World Cup qualifiers, with the U.S. collecting four wins and two draws.
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, though the teams have drawn six times out of the eight meetings in World Cup qualifying.
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.
