The month of March ended, and the United States Men’s National Team had finished up two matches against 29th-ranked Denmark and 11th-ranked Switzerland (FIFA rankings). After a last-minute loss to Denmark and a draw against Switzerland, it was more of the same from the USMNT—they can compete, but will they ever get over the hump and win?
It’s now mid-June—in the midst of the MLB regular season, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals—and US soccer is in the thick of the conversation on poignant sports topics in a year where there is no World Cup.
What happened?
The USMNT ripped off three world-class performances against some of the world’s top teams. After a 2-0 victory on April 15 against rival Mexico at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (64,000 fans; sellout crowd), Jurgen Klinsmann’s team went into the Netherlands (ranked No. 6) and defeated the Dutch, 4-3, followed by besting the No. 1-ranked team in the world in their home country. Bobby Wood found the back of the net in the 87th-minute to defeat Germany in Cologne, and it was the first US win on German soil ever. In addition, it was the team’s first result against a No. 1-ranked team since 2009 against Spain.
So that happened, what’s next?
The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup—the USMNT have three matches from July 7-13 against Honduras, Haiti and Panama. Below is the secondary market ticket information for the USMNT games during that span, according to TiqIQ.com.
7/7/2015 | USMNT vs. Honduras | Toyota Stadium | Frisco, Texas | Average Price: $152.09 | Get-in Price: $79
7/10/2015 | USMNT vs. Haiti | Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts | Average Price: $88.05 | Get-in Price: $37
7/13/2015 | USMNT vs. Panama | Sporting Park | Kansas City, Missouri | Average Price: $112.84 | Get-in Price: $56
The most expensive Gold Cup tickets on the secondary market for a USMNT game is their opening clash against Honduras with an $152.09 average ticket price and a get-in price of $79. The least expensive game is in Massachusetts when they face Haiti. Hipmunk.com has discounted hotels near Gillette Stadium for US soccer fans looking to make a trip to the least-expensive game.
The most competitive of the three games will be against Panama at Sporting Park. Flights to Kansas City can be booked through Hipmunk as well, where the USMNT face the No. 54-ranked team in the world. If fans are going to travel to watch the USMNT, it might as well be against their top competition. The United States are the favorites to come out of their groups as well as the entire tournament. Costa Rica and Mexico will be the team’s two most qualified opponents, but wouldn’t meet them until after the group stages.
