By DAN KARELL
The big Kahuna will be taking place this summer in Brazil, but that doesn’t mean the United States will be devoid of international soccer action.
Teams such as England, the Ivory Coast, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and of course the U.S. Men’s National Team will be spending at least a few days if not a few weeks in the U.S. this summer, playing friendly matches ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Starting on Monday and extending through June 10, two days before the start of the World Cup, teams will be playing games from as far west as San Francisco to Boston, New Jersey, and Miami out east.
Teams will be bringing full squads and playing their best players in these final World Cup tune-ups, giving fans a great chance to see their idols that they can maybe only see on TV or on their computers.
Some of the key matches to keep an eye on are Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Ivory Coast, Mexico against Portugal, and the USMNT vs. Nigeria.
Here’s a full list of this summer’s international soccer in the USA.
May 26 – Serbia vs. Jamaica – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
May 27 – USA vs. Azerbaijan – Candlestick Park, San Francisco, Calif.
May 29 – Turkey vs. Honduras – RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.
May 30 – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Ivory Coast – Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Mo.
May 31 – Mexico vs. Ecuador – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
May 31 – Panama vs. Serbia – Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
June 1 – USA vs. Turkey – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
June 1 – Honduras vs. Israel – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston
June 2 – Japan vs. Costa Rica – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
June 3 – Mexico vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
June 3 – Greece vs. Nigeria – PPL Park, Chester, Pa.
June 4 – Ecuador vs. England – Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
June 4 – Ivory Coast vs. El Salvador – Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
June 6 – Mexico vs. Portugal – Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
June 6 – Greece vs. Bolivia – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
June 6 – Costa Rica vs. Republic of Ireland – PPL Park, Chester, Pa.
June 6 – Japan vs. Zambia – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
June 7 – USA vs. Nigeria – EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
June 7 – Spain vs. El Salvador – FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
June 7 – England vs. Honduras – Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
June 9 – Ghana vs. South Korea – Miami, Fla.
June 10 – Portugal vs. Republic of Ireland – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.