Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Kansas City to Host Copa America Tune Up Friendly for US?

Reports out of Bolivia and FIFA are that the US men's national team will be returning to Kansas City in 2016. Facetas Deportivas in Bolivia is reporting that the Bolivian national team in preparation for the 2016 Copa America in the United States will play a friendly in Kansas City on May 29th against the United States. The match is also currently listed on FIFA's site, although it lists the date as the 28th. Steven Goff with the Washington Post confirmed that the two sides are apparently working towards a deal but said that it wasn't finalized as yet.
While the US has previously played four World Cup qualifiers and two Gold Cup group phase games in Kansas City in their history, going 5-0-1, the only draw coming in last year's Gold Cup against Panama, this would be the first friendly the men's team has played in Kansas City. The assumption is that the game would take place at Children's Mercy Park, the site of the last four games the US has played in Kansas City. This would also be the second international friendly in as many years hosted in Kansas City as Mexico defeated Paraguay at Arrowhead Stadium 1-0 in 2015.

No matter the date, the game would likely serve as the last tune up for the US team before they kick off the Copa America tournament on June 3rd in Santa Clara against Colombia. It would also come a day or two (depending on if the game is officially on the 28th as FIFA has it or the 29th as Bolivia announced it) after Sporting KC is scheduled to take on DC United at home.

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