The U.S. Men’s National Team will open its 2014 schedule playing before of a capacity crowd of 27,000 fans when it hosts the Korea Republic for an international friendly at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 1. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes Radio and UniMas. Fans can also follow the match live on Twitter @ussoccer.
The capacity crowd will constitute the first home opening sell-out for the MNT at StubHub Center, and the second time the U.S. has sold out the venue. The MNT also sold out StubHub Center on June 9, 2007 for a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Trinidad & Tobago, a 2-0 win for the USA. Including Saturday’s match, StubHub Center will serve as the site of the USA's first game of the year for the seventh time since 2004, with the U.S. posting a 3-1-2 record in those previous games.
The MNT returned to the United States this week to conclude January camp at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson after spending two weeks in Sao Paul, Brazil, as part of an opportunity to go through a "dry run" for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a 22-player roster for the final portion of the camp that culminates with the team’s match against the Korea Republic.
As a lead into Saturday’s game, U.S. Soccer will provide an exclusive look at the MNT through live Match Access coverage of the team on Friday, Jan. 31, and on Saturday, Feb. 1.
On Jan. 31, ussoccer.com's Match Access coverage airs starting at 11:30 a.m. PT from StubHub Center. The day will feature a press conference with Klinsmann and a player at 11:45 a.m., followed by mixed zone footage and interviews, and capped off by a live look at the U.S. MNT's training at 12:30 p.m.
On Feb. 1, Match Access will be on site for the USA's arrival to the stadium, capture footage of the team through a "tunnel cam" and conduct pre-game interviews. Following the USA-Korea Republic game, Match Access will feature live footage of Klinsmann's post-game press conference and interview players in the mixed zone.
Saturday’s game is the first meeting between the USA and Korea Republic since the group phase of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the United States played the host to a 1-1 draw. Overall, the U.S. has a 1-3-2 record against Korea Republic, which has qualified for its eighth World Cup tournament. Prior to the 2002 World Cup, the teams played their opening group match of the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup in which Korea was an invited participant.
The U.S. MNT is coming off a record-setting 2013 campaign, posting the most victories (16) and best winning percentage (.761) in team history. The USA has advanced to the FIFA World Cup for the seventh-straight occasion (10th time overall).
