Gold Cup: USA National Team plays at Qwest Field on July 4th

July 2, 2:03 PMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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There has not been much talk in Seattle soccer circles about the arrival of the US National Team and the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup first round at Qwest Field this Saturday, July 4th. Apparently there hasn't been a boon at the box office, either. One report suggests only 6,000 seats have been sold so far.

The USA squad that will play Grenada this Saturday in Seattle won't look very much like the one that recently beat Spain 2-0 and then lost 3-2 to Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Cup Final. The USA Gold Cup roster can be viewed here. Roster size for all clubs has been increased to 30. The USA additions are listed here.

Visit www.GoldCup.org

In the most recent Gold Cup, held in 2007, the USA won its second straight trophy with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexico in Chicago.

Below is a press release from Sounders FC on the Gold Cup participants.

Group A: Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica

Jamaica’s newly appointed coach Theodore Whitmore has called up a squad of 23 players to join the Reggae Boyz as the team prepares for the 2009 Gold Cup.  The camp will run until June 22, and includes such as players as captain Ricardo Gardner and Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller.
After defeating Cyprus on May 30, during the team’s preparation week in Europe, the Canada National Team moved up to 83rd in the FIFA World Rankings.  Canada and Jamaica will kick off the Gold Cup on July 3 in Los Angeles.

Contrary to the rumors Costa Rica coach Rodrigo Kenton has decided to bring nearly the same squad to Gold Cup that played in World Cup Qualifying matches against USA and Trinidad & Tobago.  The Ticos final roster features stars such as local based stars like Walter Centeno as well as foreign based regulars such as Álvaro Saborío and Celso Borges.

  
The players called up by coach Carlos de los Cobos for the 2009 Gold Cup began its preparations on Monday, June 22 with practices in San Salvador.  El Salvador will practice in its nation’s capital before traveling to Los Angeles on either June 27 or June 28.  The 23 player roster is highlighted by New York Red Bulls defender Alfredo Pacheco and Firpo forward Herberth Barrera, who will be making his national team debut. 
 
Group B: Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, United States

Despite falling to Italy 3-1 and Brazil 3-0 in its first two Confederations Cup matches, the United States knocked off Egypt 3-0 and coupled with a Brazil’s 3-0 defeat of Italy, surprisingly advanced to the Semifinal round.  The United States then shocked the world by defeating the World’s top team Spain 2-0, breaking the European champion's 35 game unbeaten streak.  The United States will face Brazil on Sunday.    
Hondurasnational team coach Reinaldo Rueda last week unveiled his 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.  Among the final roster are goal-scorer Carlo Costly, Walter Pery Martínez and Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza.  Honduras is currently training for its final preparation match before the Gold Cup on June 28 against Panama in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Grenada’s expectations for its first appearance in Gold Cup may rely on New England Revolution star Sharlie Joseph, who has proven his versatility this season by playing several matches as a forward instead of his usual holding midfield spot. Joseph leads the Revs with five goals and has set up four others in 12 regular season games. Grenada will open its first ever Gold Cup campaign July 5 against the United States at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington.

Haitiwill try to improve upon its last performance in Gold Cup, when the Caribbean team failed to past the first round. The squad led by Colombian coach Jairo Ríos tied Panama 1-1 in Port-Au-Prince on Friday, June 22.

 
Group C: Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

In preparation for CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009, the Mexico will face Venezuela and Guatemala this week.  Mexico will play Venezuela in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, June 24 at the Georgia Dome before traveling to San Diego, Calif., to take on Guatemala at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, June 28.
Following its 1-1 draw against Haiti on June 19, Panama will now travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to face Honduras on June 28 and the Carolina Railhawks on July 1.  Coach Gary Stempel also announced his side’s final 23 player roster on Sunday.  The roster includes Mexico based players Blas Pérez and Felipe Baloy as well as rising stars Roman Torres and Nelson Barahona. 
After shining in the last edition of Gold Cup by reaching the semifinals, Guadeloupe’s expectations are high for the 2009 tournament. With a mostly European-based squad, the “Gwada Boys” are counting on Scottish Dundee United forward, Mickaël Antoine-Curier to lead the offense. Guadeloupe is coached by Roger Salnot and opens Gold Cup play against Panama July 5 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The Nicaragua national team is currently in Brazil preparing for the Gold Cup.  The team fell 3-0 to Vasco de Gama in its fourth match in Brazil.  The side coached by Otoniel Olivas has gone 0-3-1 on the tour.  
 
CONCACAF Gold Cup Tickets Information
Tickets for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ are currently on sale to the general public, making available seats for all 25 games in 13 venues from coast-to-coast.
Fans wishing to purchase tickets may visit www.goldcup.org and click on the city, date or games they want to attend.

Prices start at $20 in some venues and a Family Four Pack option of four tickets at a discount for an upgraded location will be available in all cities except Miami.

Gold Cup Wiki

CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009 complete schedule
 
Gold Cup 2009 Calendar
 
Friday, July 3 – Los Angeles (The Home Depot Center)
Canada vs. Jamaica, 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET)
Costa Rica vs. El Salvador, 7 p.m. (10 p.m. ET)
 
Saturday, July 4 – Seattle (Qwest Field)
Honduras vs. Haiti, 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
Grenada vs. USA, 6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET)
 
Sunday, July 5 – San Francisco (Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum)
Panama vs. Guadeloupe, 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET)
Nicaragua vs. Mexico, 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
 
Tuesday, July 7 – Columbus, Ohio (Crew Stadium)
Jamaica vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
El Salvador vs. Canada, 9 p.m. (9 p.m. ET)
 
Wednesday, July 8 – Washington (Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium)
Haiti vs. Grenada, 7 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
USA vs. Honduras, 9 p.m. (9 p.m. ET)
 
Thursday, July 9 – Houston (Reliant Stadium)
Guadeloupe vs. Nicaragua, 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET)
Mexico vs. Panama, 9 p.m. (10 p.m. ET)
 
Friday, July 10 – Miami (Florida International University Stadium)
Costa Rica vs. Canada, 7 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
El Salvador vs. Jamaica, 9 p.m. (9 p.m. ET)
 
Saturday, July 11 – Boston (Gillette Stadium)
USA vs. Haiti, 7 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
Honduras vs. Grenada, 9 p.m. (9 p.m. ET)
Sunday, July 12 – Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium)
Panama vs. Nicaragua, 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET)
Mexico vs. Guadeloupe, 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)

Quarterfinals
Saturday, July 18 – Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, TBA (x)
Group B winner vs. Group A/C third-place, TBA (x)
X-matches scheduled for 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with order TBD
Sunday, July 19 – Dallas (Dallas Cowboys New Stadium)
Group C runner-up vs. Group A runner-up, TBA (y) Group C winner vs. Group A/B third place, TBA (y) y-matches scheduled for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. local (7 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET) with order TBD

Semifinals
Thursday, July 23 – Chicago (Soldier Field)
Philadelphia quarterfinal winners, TBA (z)
Dallas quarterfinal winners, TBA (z)
z-matches scheduled for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. local (7 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT) with order TBD

Final
Sunday, July 26 – New York (Giants Stadium)
Semifinal winners, 3 p.m. (3 p.m. ET)

About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.