Audi Field in D.C. selected to host USMNT’s inaugural Concacaf Nations League match
CHICAGO (Aug. 19, 2019) – The U.S. Soccer Federation has selected Audi Field to host the inaugural match of the Concacaf Nations League for the U.S. Men’s National Team when they face Cuba on Oct. 11 in in Washington, D.C.
Kickoff in the nation’s capital is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on FS1 (coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET), UniMas and TUDN.
With the participants for the final round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be determined based on FIFA rankings at the conclusion of this tournament, Nations League’s matches have added significance for their impact on the rankings.
“We are excited to be competing in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League where not only is a championship on the line but we are able to play meaningful games in a competitive format. We have seen how valuable the Nations League has been for Europe, and for this region it’s another important opportunity to raise the level of competition,” U.S. MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “As a team that represents the United States, there is something incredibly meaningful about playing in the nation’s capital, and we aim to produce not only a good result but a good performance.”
The U.S. Men’s National Team is joined by Canada and Cuba in Group A of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League A. Four days after the opener in D.C., the USMNT takes on Canada at BMO Field in Toronto. The USMNT will play its remaining group games during the November FIFA international window.
TICKET INFO
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com and at ticketmaster.com. [Note: Tickets are not sold at Audi Field except on the day of the event.] Groups of 20 or more can order directly at ussoccer.com starting on Monday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. ET. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
VERSUS CUBA
Overall, the USA holds a 10-1-1 advantage all-time against Cuba in a series that dates back to 1947. The team’s current 10-game winning streak against Los Leones del Caribe began with a 5-2 World Cup Qualifying victory back on Sept. 21, 1949 in Mexico City, marking the team’s longest current streak against a single opponent in terms of both games (12) and years (70). Most recently,the USA played an historic friendly in Havana, recording a 2-0 shutout on Oct. 7, 2016.
IN OUR NATION’S CAPITAL
After playing 24 matches at historic RFK Stadium – the venue which hosted more USMNT matches than any other in the United States – the U.S. makes its second appearance at Audi Field, the home of D.C. United. This is the third occasion the area has hosted USA-Cuba. On Oct. 11, 2008, a pair of goals from DaMarcus Beasley paced the U.S. to a 6-1 win in World Cup Qualifying. In the quarterfinal of the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup, the MNT put up another six-pack with Clint Dempsey recording a hat trick during the 6-0 shutout in nearby Baltimore.
THE NATIONS LEAGUE LAUNCHES
The new tournament was created to maximize the quality, quantity and frequency of competitive matches for all of the confederation’s 41 Member Associations. There are three Leagues (A,B,C), with each League consisting of four groups.
At the end of the round-robin competition, the League A and B teams that finish last in their groups will be relegated to the lower league, while the group winners in Leagues B and C will be promoted to the higher league for the next edition of the competition.
The four group winners from League A will advance to the Knockout Round, where a semifinal and final will be played during the June 2020 FIFA international dates to crown the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League champion.
