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Houston Dynamo FC

U.S. MNT to Face Canada on January 29 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Opening Match of 2013

December 17, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2012) - The U.S. Men's National Team will open the 2013 campaign when it hosts regional rival Canada on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at BBVA Compass Stadium (www.bbvacompassstadium.com ). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, with broadcast details still to be finalized. Fans can follow the match live online via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and Twitter @ussoccer.

The match comes at the end of the annual January camp and is the only game prior to the start of final round qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off for the United States on Feb. 6 against Honduras in San Pedro Sula. U.S. Soccer will be celebrating its 100-year Anniversary in 2013, and will be hosting a number of events throughout the year to celebrate.

Tickets for the game go on sale to the general public Friday, December 21st, at 10 a.m. through www.ussoccer.com or online at www.bbvacompassstadium.com and www.axs.com, or by calling 888-929-7849. Tickets will also be available at the stadium Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The stadium Ticket Office will be closed December 24, 2012 through January 1, 2013. Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290.

As a sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa(r) is pleased to offer all Visa cardholders access to an advance ticket sale for this match before the sale to the general public. This advance sale starts at ussoccer.com on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. CT and runs until Friday, Dec. 21, at 8 a.m. CT. Visa will be the only payment method accepted through the Visa presale and is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. Terms and conditions apply.

Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.

"The match against Canada will come at the end of an important training camp as we get players ready for the World Cup qualifier against Honduras, and also get a good look at some up and coming players in the National Team pool," said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "Obviously we have a great history with Canada, and they were unlucky not to qualify for the final round. For us, it's a great way to start off the centennial year of U.S. Soccer."

As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men's National Team will host a public training session on Monday, Jan. 28, at BBVA Compass Stadium. Admission and parking for the event are free. More details will be available in the near future.

Overall, the United States has done exceptionally well against Canada for the past two decades. The U.S. is in the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak (8-0-7) since dropping a 2-0 decision to Canada on April 2, 1985, in Vancouver. The lifetime series record stands at 13-8-10 in the USA's favor, including a 10-1-8 record on home soil.

The teams last met June 3, 2012, dueling to a scoreless draw in Toronto. The match celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Canadian Soccer Association, and also preceded the start of the semifinal round qualifying.

BBVA Compass Stadium will host the U.S. Men's National Team for the first time, the home of 2012 Eastern Conference Champions Houston Dynamo. The U.S. has never lost in Houston, collecting a 1-0-2 record that includes two draws against Mexico and a 1-0 win against Panama in the semifinal round of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The U.S. Men's National Team will continue its bid to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup when the Hexagonal opens on Feb. 6, 2013, on the road against Honduras. The U.S. is joined by Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama as the final six teams set to compete in the 10-game round-robin format from Feb. 6-Oct. 15, 2013. The top three teams automatically advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will contest a two-game playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.

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