The U.S. men’ s soccer team is heading to Cincinnati for the first time. The team will play Venezuela on June 9 in a tune-up for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
U.S. Soccer made the announcement Thursday morning.
There are a handful of storylines featuring Floridians, or those with Sunshine State ties:
- Will Jozy Altidore make his first appearance for the Yanks since October 2017?
- Will Tampa native Julian Green earn his first call-up under new manager Gregg Berhalter?
- Can Panama City Beach native, and FC Cincinnati midfielder, Kenny Saief, earn a cap with the USMNT in front of a friendly crowd?
- Will Plantation resident, and New York City FC winger Jonathan Lewis, continue to earn call-ups despite his limited playing time for his club.
Altidore has five goals and an assist in 291 minutes for Toronto FC this year. He has not played for the national team since the Americans failed to produce a result against Trinidad and Tobago while attempting to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Green has made 24 appearances, including 22 starts, for Greuther-Fuerth in 2. Bundesliga. The 23-year-old has scored three goals this season.
Saief may be the most intriguing of the Florida quartet. He has slotted into the midfield of FC Cincinnati, providing a goal and two assists in five appearances. However, he has looked off the pace in his recent caps for the USMNT.
