United States Mens National soccer team is playing an away match vs. Costa Rica at 11:00pm on ESPN2. This is great preparation for the young USA team to play in a hostile and difficult enviroment like Costa Rica. Jurgen Klinsmann is fielding a team based of younger players with the match tonight and a match Tuesday vs. Belgium.
The Friday and Tuesday game dates are coincide with 2014 World Cup Qualifying starting in Asia and CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). United States along with Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Cuba have a bye and will not compete in World Cup Qualifying till next summer (June 8th – October 16, 2012).
Which leaves 24 nations fighting for 6 spots to play in the next round of qualifying. There are 6 groups of 4 teams and only group winners. Here are the groups and matches for CONCACAF.
Group A: El Salvador-Suriname-Cayman Islands-Dominican Republic
Friday September 2: Cayman Islands at Suriname – Dominican Republic at El Salvador
Tuesday September 6: Suriname at Dominican Republic – El Salvador at Cayman Islands
Group B: Trinidad & Tobago-Guyana-Barbados-Bermuda
Friday September 2: Barbados at Guyana – Bermuda at Trinidad & Tobago
Tuesday September 6: Guyana at Bermuda – Trinidad & Tobago at Barbados
Group C: Panama-Dominica-Nicaragua (Bahamas withdrew from competition)
Friday September 2: Nicaragua at Dominica
Tuesday September 6: Panama at Nicaragua
Group D: Canada-St. Kitts & Nevis-Puerto Rico-St. Lucia
Friday September 2: Puerto Rico at St. Kitts & Nevis – St. Lucia at Canada
Tuesday September 6: St. Kitts & Nevis at St. Lucia- Canada at Puerto Rico
Group E: Grenada-Guatemala-St. Vincent & the Grenadines-Belize
Friday September 2: St. Vincent & the Grenadines at Guatemala – Belize at Grenada
Tuesday September 6: Guatemala at Belize
Sunday September 18: Grenada at St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Group F: Haiti-Antigua & Barbuda-Curacao-US Virgin Islands
Friday September 2: Curacao at Antigua & Barbuda -US Virgin Islands at Haiti
Tuesday September 6: Antigua & Barbuda at US Virgin Islands – Haiti at Curacao
The four other matches in this group play will be on October 7th & 11th, November 11th & 15th