U.S. Soccer is staring down a massive quartet of international matches in the coming two weeks.
As the MLS calendar goes (relatively) quiet, all eyes will be focused on the fortunes of both the U.S. Men’s National Team and the U.S. U-23 National Team in their respective competitions. Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad will square off with Guatemala in a pair of critical CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, while the U-23 side -- featuring the Fire’s Brandon Vincent and Matt Polster -- head into a two-match playoff against Colombia, the second-place team from South America's Olympic qualifying tournament, with a place in the 2016 Rio Summer Games on the line.
Below is the lineup of upcoming U.S. fixtures:
Date |
Match |
Site |
Time |
TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, March 25 |
U.S. U-23 vs. Colombia |
Barranquilla, Colombia |
4 p.m. CT |
FOX Sports 1 |
Friday, March 25 |
USMNT vs. Guatemala |
Guatemala City |
9 p.m. CT |
beIN Sports/NBC Universo |
Tuesday, March 29 |
USMNT vs. Guatemala |
Columbus, Ohio |
6 p.m. CT |
ESPN2/UniMas |
Tuesday, March 29 |
U.S. U-23 vs. Colombia |
Frisco, Texas |
8:30 p.m. CT |
ESPN2 |
Polster is a veteran of the U.S. U-23 qualifying campaign, having started all five previous matches and participating in Klinsmann’s January camp. The 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist, who has been deployed almost exclusively at right back by U-23 head coach Andi Herzog, was listed as one of nine midfielders called into the playoff roster.
“It’s going to be exciting, it’s definitely something we need to qualify for,” Polster said after helping the Men In Red to a home draw with Columbus Saturday. “I know the pressure’s on now but I think the group that we’ve put together, and with the coaching staff, it looks solid.”
Vincent, meanwhile, is a new addition to the Olympic Qualifying squad for Herzog -- who attended Saturday's match at Toyota Park between the Fire and Crew SC -- but last month earned his first international cap with Klinsmann’s senior squad.
“I'm really excited, it's a huge honor and I'm really thankful for the opportunity,” he said. “I had to focus on the game (Saturday) first, and now I'm looking forward to representing our country and representing Chicago. We head out (Sunday), so quick turnaround. I'm just trying to keep my head down and work hard my whole career. I get the opportunity now, so I'll take it and will go forward with it.”
The men's soccer competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics is set to run August 4-20.
Polster and Vincent have arrived in Miami for U-23 training and are expected to rejoin the Men In Red in time for the club's next MLS outing, a home test against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, April 2 at Toyota Park.
