Bluemyboy
11-27-2007, 08:30 AM
NEW YORK -- The United States will open 2010 World Cup qualifying in June against either Barbados or Dominica and is likely to wind up in a politically charged semifinal group with Cuba.
"The opportunity to play in Cuba will be significant. I think the players will look forward to it," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said after goalkeeper Kasey Keller of Lacey set the matchup by plucking a blue ball from a bowl during Sunday's FIFA preliminary draw in Durban, South Africa.
Trying to make its sixth consecutive World Cup, the United States has a first-round bye. After advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the Americans were eliminated in the first round at last year's World Cup in Germany.
"We're pretty excited to get the process started. Now it becomes real," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "Playing in Cuba would be a new experience. As we know from previous qualifying campaigns, it's tough to play in hostile environments like the ones we find in Guatemala and T and T [Trinidad and Tobago]. From difficult conditions to hostile fans, you can't take any of these games for granted."
The U.S. team is 5-1-1 against the Cubans, but has never played in Cuba. The teams have not met in a World Cup qualifier since 1949, when they played twice in Mexico City. After a 1-1 tie against the Cubans, the U.S. team won the final match 5-2 and advanced to the 1950 tournament, where it upset England.
The United States has maintained sanctions against Fidel Castro's government since 1962. Cuba has come to this country to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, including earlier this year, but the teams have not met since the United States beat Cuba 4-1 in the Gold Cup in July 2005 at Qwest Field in Seattle.
"Obviously, we've got an opponent in June, and if we're successful with that, we'll look at the semifinals," said Sunil Gulati, U.S. Soccer Federation president. "We played all three teams previously, but obviously we haven't played Cuba away. That would pose some new challenges. But they are soccer challenges, and we'll deal with all those other issues at the time."
The U.S. team is ranked 19th in the world by FIFA, soccer's governing body. Cuba is 70th, Barbados is 124th and Dominica is 189th. The opener of the second-round series will be a U.S. home game.</pre>
"The opportunity to play in Cuba will be significant. I think the players will look forward to it," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said after goalkeeper Kasey Keller of Lacey set the matchup by plucking a blue ball from a bowl during Sunday's FIFA preliminary draw in Durban, South Africa.
Trying to make its sixth consecutive World Cup, the United States has a first-round bye. After advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the Americans were eliminated in the first round at last year's World Cup in Germany.
"We're pretty excited to get the process started. Now it becomes real," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "Playing in Cuba would be a new experience. As we know from previous qualifying campaigns, it's tough to play in hostile environments like the ones we find in Guatemala and T and T [Trinidad and Tobago]. From difficult conditions to hostile fans, you can't take any of these games for granted."
The U.S. team is 5-1-1 against the Cubans, but has never played in Cuba. The teams have not met in a World Cup qualifier since 1949, when they played twice in Mexico City. After a 1-1 tie against the Cubans, the U.S. team won the final match 5-2 and advanced to the 1950 tournament, where it upset England.
The United States has maintained sanctions against Fidel Castro's government since 1962. Cuba has come to this country to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, including earlier this year, but the teams have not met since the United States beat Cuba 4-1 in the Gold Cup in July 2005 at Qwest Field in Seattle.
"Obviously, we've got an opponent in June, and if we're successful with that, we'll look at the semifinals," said Sunil Gulati, U.S. Soccer Federation president. "We played all three teams previously, but obviously we haven't played Cuba away. That would pose some new challenges. But they are soccer challenges, and we'll deal with all those other issues at the time."
The U.S. team is ranked 19th in the world by FIFA, soccer's governing body. Cuba is 70th, Barbados is 124th and Dominica is 189th. The opener of the second-round series will be a U.S. home game.</pre>