SANDY, Utah (Monday, April 17, 2017) – U.S. Soccer has selected Rio Tinto Stadium to host the U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup Qualifying tune-up on Saturday, June 3 against Venezuela, with kickoff in Sandy set for 8 p.m. MT.
The upcoming match against Venezuela arrives at a critical juncture for the United States, just five days prior to a key home World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago in Denver on June 8, followed by a visit to the famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against rival Mexico on June 11.
The U.S. Men’s National Team boasts a perfect 3-0-0 record at the home of Real Salt Lake, including a pair of victories in World Cup Qualifying over El Salvador (2009) and Honduras (2013). Overall, the U.S. has won all four of its matches in Utah since 1990, including a World Cup Qualifying victory over Costa Rica at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2005 and a Gold Cup win over Cuba in 2013, a game which saw current RSL icons Kyle Beckerman, Nick Rimando and Tony Beltran feature at “the RioT” in Sandy.
"Salt Lake has always been a fantastic host for the National Team,” U.S. MNT head coach Bruce Arena said. “When you combine the elements of the fan support, the stadium and the altitude, it’s a perfect match as we prepare for the critical World Cup Qualifiers against Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico.”
Real Salt Lake “Royalty Members” receive an exclusive 22-hour window to purchase seats for this critical tune-up beginning Thursday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. MT (private e-mail instructions from RSL provide passcode and other information).
General public sale for USA v. Venezuela begins this Friday, April 21, at 10 a.m. MT through www.USSoccer.com. Fans can also order via phone at 844-REAL-TIX (844-732-5849) (Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT) or by visiting the Rio Tinto Stadium ticket office (open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Groups of 20 or more can order at www.USSoccer.com.
Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that 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 for both games exclusively through www.USSoccer.com.
This Summer’s visit by the U.S. Men’s National Team continues a tradition of high-profile international soccer events brought to Utah by RSL, Rio Tinto Stadium and the Utah Sports Commission, which have historically combined to offer fans the opportunity to visit the Wasatch Front to see Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game, international powers such as Internazionale Milano (Italy), Xolos de Tijuana (Mexico), Everton (England) and others, including the U.S. Women’s National Team and the U.S. Olympic teams as well.
Back on March 21, it was announced that world power Manchester United would visit Utah for the first time ever, facing RSL at Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday, July 17. RSL “Royalty” Season Ticket Members have exclusive access to this game, with the ability to secure their seats and/or extra tickets (limit of four) until next Monday, April 24. MT. Pro-rated 14-game Season Ticket packages for Real Salt Lake's 2017 campaign at Rio Tinto Stadium remain on sale; please visit www.RSL.com/tickets/royalty or call 844.Real.Tix for more information.
The U.S. Men’s National Team hits the halfway point of the Final Round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying when it returns home for USA-Trinidad & Tobago, presented by Liberty Mutual, on Thursday, June 8, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver.
Last month, the USMNT reversed course from its two opening CONCACAF “Hexagonal” losses in November by earning a 6-0 home win over Honduras and grinding out a 1-1 road win at Panama to take a combined four points from Matchdays 3 and 4. The results lifted the U.S. into fourth place in the six-team final round group, just one point behind Panama for CONCACAF’s third automatic World Cup berth with six games remaining – two in the June 5/13 window, two more between Aug. 28 and Sept. 5, with the final pair of “Hex” matches being played in early October.
Saturday, June 3 will mark the fourth meeting between the United States and Venezuela, with the USA posting a commanding 3-0-1 lead in the series. U.S. captain Michael Bradley earned his first cap for the MNT against Venezuela during the Send-Off Series for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, while Graham Zusi made his MNT debut six years later in the 1-0 win to open the USA’s 2012 campaign.
Coming in late Summer, 2017, Real Salt Lake's regional training center opens in Herriman, Utah, approximately 20 minutes southwest of Rio Tinto Stadium. The $60 million facility will serve as the daily training home beginning in 2018 for both of the club's professional teams – RSL (MLS) and Real Monarchs (USL) – while centralizing the club's U-18, U-16 and future U-14 development academy youth selections. The Herriman campus will provide adjacencies for an on-site charter school opening this Fall, with STEM disciplines (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) for nearly 300 boys and girls. View a recent photo gallery of the Herriman progress HERE: http://www.rsl.com/gallery/2017-herriman-progress-report.
In mid-November in North Logan, Utah, RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen broke ground on the first of a half-dozen regional training centers across Utah and Arizona to be built in the next 2-3 years. Each $5 million RTC houses a classroom, as well as an indoor and outdoor field, dedicated to fulfilling a curriculum consistent with the club's vision and mission for youth soccer training and education, and the continued development of both recreational and competitive pre-Academy (ages 7-12) initiatives across Utah and Arizona.
