The U.S. men's national team will take on Spain on June 4th at Gillette Stadium (4:30pm) in Foxboro, U.S. Soccer announced on Friday.
The match will be the first meeting between the teams since the United States pulled off the stunning 2-0 upset victory against Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.
The friendly will also serve as the final tune-up for the United States before the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the Americans begin on June 7th against Canada.
What do you think of this development? Excited to see the Americans face Spain again? Think the United States can win again?
Share your thoughts below.
Because Gulati hates the West Coast
Agree that Spain is a great opponent, but how can you compare the Mexican’s playing style to Spain? Completely different. Mexico is built on speed these days, not control like Spain.
Man, everybody whines so much about games. I think the USA does a darn good job bringing to US team all over the place.
Plus, the USA should* play in the semi-final in houston. (After they play in Tampa, Detroit, Kansas City, and Washington DC)
They had friendlies at Chicago and Philly end of last year, Chile is LA, and friendlies coming up in Foxboro, New Jersey, and Nashville.
There is zero overlap there. People should be thankful they get a game once a year, some people live in areas where they will never be close to a venue.
These east coast friendlies are killing me! I can’t pass up the chance to see the USMNT vs Spain in Boston (Foxboro). Unfortunately NYRB has a home game vs. Columbus that day. Club v Country. Again, my love for the Yanks is too much to overcome.
everytime a friendly is scheduled this complaint comes up.
it’s more convenient for the visiting teams. easy to forget how massive this country is.
I hope they play Torres.. then we’ll have a chance.
Poland, Chicago, last September. Ring any bells?
On another note, though, Soldier Field is the smallest NFL stadium in terms of capacity. I don’t know how previous national team games have done in Chicago in terms of attendance, but several other popular venues (such as New Meadowlands and Reliant in Houston) sell out and seat 80,000+.
Re. #2: Watching a team play defense for 80 minutes also means you are watching a team attack for 80 minutes.
I for one am not excited to play Span as the last warm up game because: (contrarian post)
1. We are built to counter attack but for most of the gold cup we have to play out of character and be the ball possesion team and defend against the counter attack so Spain doesn’t help our boys prepare for that. No real chances to build continuity with the attacking players that we have although even if we had time we might not improve that much over one game.
2. Playing Spain is just painful to watch. We get the ball for like 10 minutes out of the entire 90. Our attacking players probably would agree that its painful against Spain as well. Does anybody ever really like watching defense in sports?
3. The odds are not in our favor of going into the tournament with a win and a sense of confidence. I like my teams to start tourneys while already on or starting a winning streak personally.
So who should we play? I think a team with a more open style of play would be more beneficial so both offenses get some work.
waaaaaaaaaaah how do you think the southeast feels?
Would love that, a homecoming . . . hopefully he does well Vs. the Revs up there this weekend as well
it is a turf field, but they lay good sod down for international matches and have done a good job doing so.
You’re right about the grass, wrong about the Gold Cup. Gillette is not hosting any Gold Cup matches.
When did you last tune into a Pats’ game? 2006? That’s the last time they had grass.
The field is now FieldTurf “Duraspine Pro” — according to the Wikipedia page, this was expected to meet FIFA standards, so they wouldn’t have to lay sod on top.
If they’re planning to play on the stuff, I’m not exactly looking forward to that aspect. On the other hand, it will help bring Spain down to our level, since their passing game will have to deal with balls that just keep running.
The Revs and Pats play on FieldTurf. Gillette is putting in real grass for this friendly and the Gold Cup games it is hosting.
Relax, they’re putting real grass down for the match.
I can see Davies making his return to the national team in this game.
Plastic pitch? What are you talking about? Last time I tuned into a Pats game it was played on grass.
Hey, we get Mexico vs Ecuador … yay …
please please please….let it be in Miami
You are a fool, how can playing Spain be bad. So I guess according to your dumb comment we should play Nicaragua….Think how dumb you sound.
Welcome, World cup winners… to a plastic pitch that will exacerbate injuries and give phenomenal rug burns….
The US is a large country. It is probably difficult enough to convince the Euro teams to fly across the Atlantic for a friendly, let along fly all the way across the country. I imagine it is a geographical issue.
really impressed with the teams we are scheduling!!! great job USSF!
you’re right! We should be playing the Canadian U-23 team, Martinique and Guyana to prepare. What good would playing the defending EC and WC champs do?
Seriously though, hats off to USSF/Bradley for scheduling these top notch friendlies. If we continue to play the best in the world, we are only bound to get better…
This might have had nothing to do with it, but la liga could end up playing its final matches on june 12th.
Actually not sure I like the idea of playing Spain 3 days before our first game against Canada.
Yeah it’s a great warm up but hopefully we can recover quickly
not to mention the USSF house is 1 mile from the stadium.
I think, at least I hope, you’re being sarcastic
I don’t understand why more national team games aren’t in Chicago. It’s in the middle of the country, you can walk to and from the stadium and don’t need a car to get around the city once you arrive. The time and money that supporters have to shell out to go from one coast to another, if the game is scheduled on the opposite coast from where they live, should be a concern when these games are scheduled. Not the deciding factor, but it should factor into the decision.
At least the US team will get a good workout chasing the ball the entire game. Kidding, great matchup, these games mean so much to the future of our national team. I just wish they wouldn’t schedule these games around times I all ready have stuff planned.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could just tackle Iniesta or Xavi one time in 90 minutes? We’re going to be chasing a lot of possession, so we had better come fit to play.
Sarcasm?
Hincha Tim:
I agree i think the NW deserves some big international matches, but…
One of the main reasons the matches are scheduled on the East Coast is to accomadate the teams travelling from Europe. Go to the West Coast and they’re adding 3 more time zones and longer travel. Straight shot in to Logan or NYC.
I agree with your sentiments.
I would have to guess that the reasons are:
1. Shorter flight from Europe.
2. Nobody wants to play at higher elevation like Denver, and the flyover states might not sell as many tickets.
3. Summer time heat issues rule out much of the deep south.
Orale!!!!! Time to beat the pinche peninsulares again! Beat the Euro Champs in 09′, now time to beat the World Cup Champs in 11.’ USA the only reason why they didn’t have the National Team Treble (if there is such a thing).
excellent!
This is ridiculous! Spain plays NOTHING like Canada, or Guadaloupe, or Panama! So, how is this possibly going to help us win the Gold Cup?
Once again, the federation goes chasing the almighty attendance dollar and shoots itself in the foot in competition preparation.
(SBI-How is facing a tough opponent bad exactly? And if you want to talk about the opponent the USA has to worry about, it’s Mexico, and playing Spain is easily the best way to prepare for Mexico’s possession style since Spain does that better than anyone else.)
screw Gulati, Why not Texas stadium??
this is too close to the first game of the gold cup. our players will only have 2 days to rest.
When do tix go on sale?
I think it is great. We need to consistently play teams better than us. Hopefully this will help get a good mindset on the level we need to play at for the Golf Cup to win it and not play down to the competition.
Just as long as Mexico doesn’t schedule them too.
Yes! I am so there.
WOW! The US no longer messes around when it comes to friendlies. Can’t wait to get my tickets for this one.
All these USMNT games seem to be on the east coast. Why can’t they schedule some of them for the Western half of the U.S.? I understand during Europes domestic season the reason (less time difference) but this game is after the european seasons are over. They should have found a western venue for the match.
What impact is this going to have on attendance in Detroit. I expected at least some east coast travel for June 7. Very little now I’d say.
Nice
NICE!!!!
Hell yes! Come back Sunil Gulati all is forgiven!