US National Team Update

Red Card Blog (Chicago Tribune) notes that the U.S. national team will face Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifier at Toyota Park on Sept. 10, should both teams advance to the semi-final round. The U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed the match Monday and said an official announcement will be made as early as this week. With less than 16000 seats, the game in Chicago will sell out fast!

Tickets have already gone on sale for June 15 at the The Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. for the game against Barbados.

There are a number of friendlies coming up soon.
May 28th 2:00 pm – U.S. Men vs. England (Wembley Stadium), ESPN Classic (live)
June 4th 3:00 pm – U.S. Men vs. Spain (Estadio El Sardinero; Spain), ESPN2 (4 pm ET)
June 8th 6:30 pm – U.S. Men vs. Argentina (Giants Stadium; N.J.), Live on ESPN Classic
June 15th 4:00 pm – U.S Men vs. Barbados (Home Depot Center; Carson, CA) Live on ESPN2

Beckham has been called up for England but Bob Bradley hasn’t announced the US squad yet.

The U.S. Women’s National Team will travel to Europe for friendly matches for the first time since 2001, facing Norway in Fredrikstad on July 2, followed by an intriguing clash with Sweden in Skelleftea on July 5.

Olympics U23’s

The group stages have been identified. The men have been placed in Group B, which includes Netherlands, Nigeria and Japan. The Women are in Group C, which includes Norway, Japan and New Zealand.

As a reminder, the Olympics feature each country’s U-23 team, plus three wild card players. That and the fact that three of the four World Cup semifinalists from World Cup ’06 — France, Germany and Portugal — are not going to China, ensures a whole new adventure.

You can get a look at the possible roster later this month when the US plays in the Toulon Tournament. The United States faces Turkey on May 21 (9:30am ET), Ivory Coast on May 23 (12:30pm) and Italy on May 25 (noon) with all the games to be featured on Fox Soccer Channel. Oh, the KC Wizards are represented by Jon Leathers, a defender.

USA Today visited with the Women’s team recently to talk about the Olympics.