Super Venue

Today it was announced that the U.S. Men's National team will play El Salvador in Tampa, FL on February 24. The match will be the Americans second World Cup warmup of the year-- the first coming later this month as the United States play host to a fellow World Cup qualifying nation, Honduras on January 23rd in Carson, California. The 27,000 seat Home Depot Center in Carson is the home of two MLS teams (Chivas USA, LA Galaxy), as well as being home to the United States Soccer Federation National Teams.

Playing at Raymond James Stadium is not only a wonderful location, but also, a chance for the U.S. to highlight another of it's 18 cities featured in a bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cups. This stadium previously held both Super Bowls XXXV and XLIII. The "Ray Jay" as it's known by most fans also bears claim to "the best turf in the NFL" according to one 2004 study. America, 2-1-1 playing in Tampa, last visited the city March 25, 2007. The result was a 3-1 victory over Ecuador.

In early March the U.S. will play the Netherlands in Amsterdam. It will be the final match before coach Bob Bradley sets his 23-man World Cup Roster. Also of note, it is the only date before May in which club teams are required to release players to their respective national teams.

America opens the South Africa 2010 World Cup tournament June 12, against England, with group play ending after matches against Slovenia on June 18, and then Algeria five days later. The United States has never placed in a World Cup, although FIFA now officially gives credit for third-place in the 1930 Cup.

Now with 570,000+ fans watching the games live in South Africa, as well as an estimated 1.5 billion more watching on TV this will be the most widely viewed sporting event in history. With wholly 20% of the world's population watching, the American desire to win will be more abounding than ever before.