The dates for the Hex have been set. Matchday 1 February 9 (BRRR!!!) Matchday 2 March 26/27 Matchday 3 March 30 Matchday 4 June 4/5 Matchday 5 June 8 Matchday 6 August 17 Matchday 7 September 3/4 Matchday 8 September 7 Matchday 9 October 8/9 Matchday 10 October 12
Any word on when the drawing to schedule the games will be? I assume it will be sometime after the November 17 games.
During FIFA meetings at their Swiss HQ from December 15-17. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=120311
Thanks for the info!!! I've been looking for this specific info for weeks online and coulnd't find it. Gotta notify my travel agent now!
Round Date Match-ups Matchday 1 February 9 -----1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 Matchday 2 March 26-27-----3 v 1 2 v 5 4 v 6 Matchday 3 March 30--------1 v 4 6 v 2 5 v 3 Matchday 4 June 4/5---------5 v 1 2 v 4 6 v 3 Matchday 5 June 8-----------1 v 6 3 v 2 4 v 5 Matchday 6 August 17-------2 v 1 4 v 3 6 v 5 Matchday 7 September 3/4---1 v 3 5 v 2 6 v 4 Matchday 8 September 7-----4 v 1 2 v 6 3 v 5 Matchday 9 October 8/9------1 v 5 4 v 2 3 v 6 Matchday 10 October 12------6 v 1 2 v 3 5 v 4 According to the story, the dates and matchups are above. For the draw, teams will be assigned numbers 1-6. Assuming the first number is the home side, 3 v 1 is in country 3, then the breakdown for home (h) and away (a) matches is below: 1: H A H A H A H A H A 2: A H A H A H A H A H 3: H H A A H A A H H A 4: A H A A H H A H H A 5: H A H H A A H A A H 6: A A H H A H H A A H What would be the best option for the US? I'd be happy with 1 or 2, alternating between home and away. I'd like 1 to play a home game in Feb. I wouldn't want any part of 5. Three out of the first four at home, then four of next five away. Talk about pressure out of the gate.
While I'd love to see Mexico all frigid in New England or Ohio, would that date really be ideal for us to play Mexico? MLS'ers will be out of season. Although, if LD goes back to Bayer, we could still put a good team out...but how long would we have them in camp?
How about we play Mexico here... It is a cozy stadium in a cold city that will be a shorter flight for the YA's. BTW, that is Rentschler Field in Hartford.
Does anyone know what the rationale is for scheduling games three days apart, like Matchday 7 and Matchday 8?
It matches the international schedule. Most leagues with take off a week for international matches, the dates are a Sat/Sun and the following Wed. Players can play their weekend games, spend the next week and a half with the national teams. The national teams get in two games for a minimal disruption of the club leagues of one weekend. Except in MLS and other third world countries where the leagues ignore the national team issues.
I know the USA played a big rugby match there against France this summer...that's when I first saw it and thought it would make a great site for a USMNT game...it looks big enough to hold a qualifier.
I waited for over a year until they finally played against the daines here in the HDC and i hope they play here again as long as it's not against an hispanic country.
(Re: Rentschler Field in Hartford) Looks soccer-sized to me, but the question is, how many does it seat? Would this be very similar to Crew Stadium? Going to sticky this thread if it hasn't been done already, too. Absolutely vital information here.
It holds approximately 40-42k. I saw Uconn-Pitt on ESPN thurs night the field is natural grass and was in excellent condition. IIRC the US last played in the state of Conn. say 95 or 96 vs Scotland in the Nike Cup don't remember name of venue but it was a small stadium of 20k or less. Being close to Boston area I am sure a qaulifier would draw a good size crowd. Should definitely be a venue USSF thinks about using espcially before next football season when UConn will need field.
My fiance and I are really hoping it's June 5th, 'cause our big day is the 4th, and we both wanna be able to watch the game really bad. Although at that point we might have other things to do than watch a soccer game.... If it's the late afternoon/evening of the 4th, we might have to find a way to hook up a TV at our reception...
No owner = no MLS team. The stadium situation is practically irrelevant. Back to on-topic discussion, just because there is a matchday on February 9 doesn't mean we'll be at home - we might be in sunny Trinidad & Tobago. Or Honduras. Or at Azteca. Or...
Yup, we could very well open in Azteca, which is good or bad depending on your perspective. Good in a sense that you get your most difficult game out of the way and you could catch Mexico off-guard and if you lose you have nine matches to make it up. Bad in that if you lose, you are off to a bad start and the pressure will no doubt mount after that.
Since there is a game the 8th, I'd bet on the 4th to allow more time to prepare for the second game. You'll get six months lead time on country, but time and exact location will probably be up in the air for a couple of months. Good luck and CONGRATS! It's great that you have a fiance that would even take a soccer game into consideration!
Nothing like planning your wedding around soccer! Preist: Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wed... IowaBoy and wife: GOAL!!!!!!!!!
Well, we probably won't make it to the game in person, but we should be able to see it (we'll be at a resort in the Bay Islands, Honduras), which is what we really hoped for. We've discussed the possibility of saving for Germany in 2006, but I'm in med school here in DSM, so we'll see... She's about as big a soccer fan as I am, as she was born in Honduras and her family came to the States when she was seven. She's got me cheering for Honduras as my second favorite national team! And I've helped make her a Cyclone fan (plus she's an ISU student)! It IS good to have a soccer-loving woman!