US Will Face Winner of Barbados/Dominica

World Cup Qualifying Begins in June

November 26, 2007

CHICAGO – The United States men’s soccer team will face the winner of the Barbados and Dominica series in the second round of World Cup qualifying this June.

The Americans also learned their three potential opponents in one of the three Semifinal Round groups, where they could face Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba should each country advance out of their early-round mini-groups.

As the top three qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica cannot face one another until the third and final stage of the qualifying competition.

"Certainly we know that Barbados would be the favorite to advance,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said in a statement. “We know Barbados from having played against them twice in the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. They are a team that typically is physically talented and are starting to have more players competing overseas.”

The U.S. has never faced Dominica and only played Barbados twice in the Men’s National Team’s 91-year history.

The U.S. was the first team from CONCACAF to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, which was the first time since 1934, and finished first in the Final Round group for the first time in history.

During the 18-game qualifying campaign, the U.S. compiled a 12-2-4 record with 10 shutouts. At home, the U.S. went 8-0-1 during 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying, with all eight victories coming by shutout. The U.S. did not give up a goal in the final round on U.S. soil, outscoring their opponents 10-0, while recording multiple goals in four games.

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