[via NY Times] [via Philly.com]
The United States will face Turkey on May 29 at Lincoln Financial Field in its final match in this country before the World Cup gets underway in South Africa on June 11, according to US Soccer.
[via lincolnfinancialfield.com] Landon Donovan and the U.S. Men’s National Team will play Turkey on Saturday, May 29 at Lincoln Financial Field for its Send-Off Match prior to departing for South Africa to compete in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Kickoff for the match is set for 2 p.m. (ET).
Tickets for the match start at $25 and go on sale to the public Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. (ET) through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout the Delaware Valley (including Macy’s, FYE and Boscov’s), and the Lincoln Financial Field ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form atussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages which include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. national team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
As a sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa® is pleased to offer all Visa cardholders access to an advance ticket sale for this match before the sale to the general public. This advance sale starts Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m. (ET) and runs until Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. at ussoccer.com. Visa will be the only payment method accepted through the Visa presale and is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. Terms and conditions apply.
“We are particularly excited about playing our final match in the United States prior to the World Cup in Philadelphia, a city rich in soccer tradition,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. “Lincoln Financial Field has proven to be an excellent venue for international soccer, and the fans have shown tremendous support for the sport. We anticipate a fantastic environment in our last game before heading to South Africa.”
The match against Turkey marks the USA’s first meeting against the 2002 FIFA World Cup third-place finishers on home soil. The U.S. National Team will return to Philadelphia – one of 18 cities included in the USA’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 – for only the third time in international competition. The match will be part of a two-game Send-Off Series against two of the traditionally stronger teams from Europe, as the U.S. also meets Czech Republic on May 25 at a site to be determined.
“Philadelphia has a world-class combination of assets, an extremely strong motivated civic and business community and an energized fan base,” said Eagles President Joe Banner. “We are excited to provide the highest quality accommodations and hospitality to soccer enthusiasts from around the world.”
The first U.S. MNT appearance in Philadelphia was in 1968, a 4-0 loss to Israel. Most recently, the USA captured a 2-1 overtime victory against Panama in the quarterfinals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Buoyed by a boisterous crowd of 32,000, the USA came from behind to defeat their Central American rivals in the only Men’s National Team game to date at Lincoln Financial Field.
The U.S. holds a 0-1-1 record against Turkey, who made a memorable run to the semifinals of the 2008 European Championship. The two sides’ most recent meeting came during the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, with the Turks collecting a 2-1 victory in Lyon, France.
The game in Pennsylvania’s largest city concludes a journey more than three years in the making with matches spanning four continents. Since the start of Bradley’s tenure in 2007, the U.S. men have compiled a 24-3-5 record at home.
Before concluding its U.S.-based World Cup preparations in Philadelphia, Bradley’s team will meet the Czech Republic on May 25. The location of the game will be determined in the near future.
Following the Philadelphia match, the U.S. will travel to South Africa to prepare for its first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The USA opens the tournament on June 12 against England in Rustenburg, before continuing Group C action against Slovenia in Johannesburg on June 18. The U.S. rounds out group play against Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria.
The Philadelphia match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and at twitter.com/ussoccer.