The US national team will play Cuba in a friendly match in Havana on Oct. 7, US Soccer announced Thursday. The game will be the first such meeting of the two countries since 1947.
“We are happy to have the chance to bring our team to Cuba,’’ US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a press release announcing the historic encounter. “In addition to good competition, we are always looking for our group to have different experiences, and this is a unique opportunity.’’
The match will be played at Estadio Pedro Marrero and will be broadcast live on ESPN and the Univision Networks. The kickoff time is yet to be determined.
The US and Cuba only recently began to restore diplomatic relations with one another and earlier this year a Major League Baseball spring training exhibition game was played in Havana. When the USMNT visit Havana in October, it will be just their second visit to Cuba in 69 years. The teams played in a World Cup qualifying match in Cuba Sept. 6, 2008, a match won 1-0 by the US.
