Seattle and Portland To Host Gold Cup Games

Jeld Wen will host the US Mens Team

Portland’s Jeld Wen stadium will host the US Mens Team in a Gold Cup tie on July 9 where Belize provide the opponents.

Two Group C matchups at JELD-WEN Field will pit Costa Rica and Cuba at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), and Belize against the United States at 8 p.m. (Pacific) at the Timbers stadium.

“We are excited to welcome back the U.S. National Team to Portland, and have the national teams from Belize, Cuba and Costa Rica experience Soccer City, USA,” said Mike Golub, COO of the Portland Timbers.

“JELD-WEN Field features one of the most unique and intimate soccer environments in North America and we are excited to showcase the experience on an international stage.”

The American National Team will make its third visit to Portland, and its first since 1998.

They defeated Kuwait 2-0 in a friendly at then-called Civic Stadium on May 24, 1998. The United States also played host to Costa Rica in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Civic Stadium on Sept. 7, 1997, which the United States won 1-0 on a goal by Tab Ramos.

Two days later, the Gold Cup brings America’s neighbours, Mexico and Canada to CenturyLink Field at 8pm after Panama play Martinique earlier in the day.

The venue, just south of the Canada/US border, is sure to bring in a large support from Vancouver, as well as  many enthusiastic Mexicans, such as the ones who visited for a friendly with Ecuador in May 2011, where the attendance was 50,305.

Mexico fans in Seattle for the Ecuador friendly
Photo: Rick Morrison

There will be a big day too for Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio whose Costa Rica side will play at his club’s home ground.  They host Belize at 4pm  MT on July 13 after the USA play Cuba at 1:30 p.m. MT to open the Utah-based portion of the event.

Another player who may find himself playing for his country at his home ground is Houston Dynamo’s Boniek Garcia, whose Honduras squad, will play Trinidad and Tobago at BBVA Compass Stadium on July 15th.

Portland’s Rodney Wallace may find himself in the same situation as Costa Rica visit Jeld Wen.

The Americans’ third venue is Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut where they play Costa Rica. Canada also play at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and at Denver’s Mile High Stadium where Martinique and Panama provide the opposition.

The tournament format will again feature a 12-team field divided into three four-team groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.

Mexico and Ecuador Fans Illuminate Seattle on Colourful Day - 2011