USMNT To Kick Off World Cup Preparation Against Morocco on June 1 in Cincinnati
Fellow World Cup Finalists Morocco Went Unbeaten in Qualifying; Match is First Against African Opponent During Berhalter’s Tenure
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CHICAGO (April 20, 2022) – In its first preparation match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face 24th-ranked Morocco on June 1 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff time and broadcast information will be available soon.
After going unbeaten in CAF World Cup Qualifying (7-0-1) while scoring 25 goals and surrendering only three, Morocco was drawn into Group F at the World Cup along with Belgium, Canada and Croatia. The USMNT has never beaten the Atlas Lions, posting a 0-3-0 record all time.
Morocco will be the first African team to face the United States since head coach Gregg Berhalter has been in charge.
The USMNT returns to TQL Stadium for the second time, following the 2-0 shutout win against archrival Mexico in World Cup Qualifying on Nov. 12, 2021, before a sellout crowd of 26,000. Christian Pulisic scored just minutes after entering the match and midfielder Weston McKennie netted a late goal in the 85th minute to boost the USA to another memorable Dos a Cero victory over Mexico in home World Cup qualifiers.
“We’re excited to face a fellow World Cup finalist and provide our team with a different challenge,” Berhalter said. “With only six international games before the World Cup, this is a critical period for our team preparation. Combining the magnificent training facilities, the world-class stadium and the amazing atmosphere, Cincinnati ticked all the boxes to give us a great start to these summer matches.”
TICKETS
Presales for the match will begin on Monday, April 25 with the public sale beginning on Friday, April 29.
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VISA PRESALE
As the official payment technology sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa® has made special arrangements for Visa cardholders to participate in an advance sale of tickets. These advance sales will take place from Thursday, April 28 at 10 a.m. ET to Friday, April 29 at 8 a.m. ET. As the preferred card of U.S. Soccer, Visa will be the only payment method accepted during the Visa presale. Terms and conditions apply.
USA VS. MOROCCO
This will be the fourth meeting with Morocco in team history and only the second on U.S. soil. The last encounter took place in 2006 when the teams faced off in Nashville during the Send Off Series for the World Cup in Germany. The previous two meetings came during the 1990’s in Morocco -- a 3-1 loss on March 18, 1992 in Rabat and a 2-1 defeat on Nov. 17, 1999 in Marrakech – a match which Berhalter started for the USMNT.
SUMMER SERIES
The Morocco tilt is the first of four matches for the USMNT during the ‘double window’ in June. Following another friendly on June 5, the USA will open its Concacaf Nations League title defense on June 10 at home against Grenada. Four days later, the USA travels to face El Salvador. The United States captured the inaugural CNL championship last summer in a thrilling 3-2 defeat of Mexico in extra time.
The opponent for June 5 game along with venues for that match and the Grenada match will be announced in the near future.