U.S. MNT to open 2019 schedule vs. Panama on January 27
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will open its 2019 schedule with a friendly against regional foe Panama on Sunday, Jan. 27 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The contest will also serve as new head coach Gregg Berhalter’s first game at the helm of the MNT.
The USA’s first match of 2019 will be televised on ESPN2 and Univision Networks at 8 p.m. ET / 6 MT.
Tickets for the match will go on sale to the public Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. MT through ussoccer.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Groups of 20 or more can order directly at ussoccer.com.
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Already set to face Costa Rica on Friday, Feb. 2 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., the match will open the MNT’s two-game slate during its annual January Camp as the USA begins its preparation for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup this summer and Concacaf Nations League play in the fall. The camp will begin Jan. 7 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
The match will be the MNT’s fifth at State Farm Stadium, where it holds a 2-1-1 record. The stadium has previously hosted two USA-Mexico rivalry clashes, with the MNT earning a 2-0 win against El Trí on Feb. 7, 2007, before playing to a 2-2 draw on April 2, 2014. The USA’s last appearance in the venue came against Colombia in the Third-Place Match of the Copa America Centenario when it fell 1-0 on June 25, 2016.
The match will mark the 20th meeting between the United States and Panama, with the MNT holding a healthy 12-1-6 all-time advantage in the series. In the most recent meeting, the USA defeated Los Canaleros 4-0 in Final Round World Cup Qualifying on Oct. 6, 2017 in Orlando, Fla.
