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.

RVDV Deal Unlikely, de Jong Injured, Espinoza Sits, and More

Catching up on some news from the past day or so that I've brought up on Twitter, but I'll mention further here.

RVDV Deal Unlikely

Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl was present at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night for Sporting KC's game against New York City FC. Around half time, Wahl provided an update on the rumored move by KC to acquire Rafael van der Vaart, who has been told he won't be offered a new contract at Hamburg. For those that were excited about the potential signing, it looks like they're going to be disappointed. Wahl is reporting now that a deal for the Dutchman is looking unlikely and that Kansas City is going in a different direction.

Wahl reports that KC is still looking at additions for this summer, and has two players in mind, one of which is a South American.

De Jong Injured

Sporting has already lost Graham Zusi for this weekend (most likely) after picking up a hamstring injury in the win over NYCFC. They also could be without Jimmy Medranda, who also left the game with an injury. And now they have a third player who has picked up a knock. Tonight in Canada's 3-0 win in an international friendly against Puerto Rico, KC left back, Marcel de Jong started for Canada but only played 34 minutes before being subbed out. De Jong picked up an injury in the 33rd minute and tried to continue playing, but was quickly taken out and replaced by Karl Ouimette in the 34th.

Of all the positions that KC could suffer an injury, left back might be the easiest position for KC to recover from. With Seth Sinovic also available, KC should be fine should de Jong not be able to play this weekend. Still it'd be a blow for KC, while Sinovic may be a bit better defensively in KC's system, de Jong offers KC much more going forward with his crossing and also with the set pieces as he showed against Portland.

Espinoza Sits as Honduras Qualify

The Honduran national team filled out the final team in this summer's Gold Cup and will play the United States in each team's first game in Group A. After suffering an embarrassing 3-1 loss in the first leg in French Guiana, Honduras came out and scored three goals in the first half in the return leg in San Pedro Sula on Sunday with former DC United midfielder Andy Najar scoring two.

For Roger Espinoza though, he had no place in the team and was on the bench for the game after being subbed out in the 65th minute of the first leg in French Guiana. Still, Espinoza will likely have a role to play this summer for Honduras and could be missing more time for KC with Honduras qualified now.

Copa America Centenario Submitted

On behalf of @VisitKC, @SportKC, @KCChiefs, @SportingKC, & entire @KCMO metro, #CopaAmetica2016 bid submitted! pic.twitter.com/7kXr5I4IM1
— David Ficklin (@davidficklin) March 30, 2015

While KC was already on the short list to be a potential host for the 2016 Copa America Centenario which will feature teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, today it became official. The above tweet from Dave Ficklin confirms that KC has officially submitted their bid to host games in next summer's tournament. A tournament that could bring some of the best players in the world like Lionel Messi and Argentina or Neymar and Brazil to Kansas City. Certainly something that would be quite exciting as a fan of soccer to watch.