CHICAGO (AP) - The U.S. national team will play Ghana on July 1 in East Hartford, Connecticut, to prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup is the biennial championship for the North, Central American and Caribbean regions. Twelve teams take part in the tournament, which will be played in 14 U.S. cities from July 7-26.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena is expected to look at younger players in Gold Cup matches and leave off many of the team’s regulars.
“Ghana is certainly a team that brings different challenges, and it’s the type of competition we need as we continue to develop our program,” Arena said in a statement Monday. “Winning the Gold Cup is one of our priorities in 2017, so this is an important opportunity. We’ve always had great support in Hartford, and look forward to more of the same this summer.”
Ghana knocked the U.S. out of World Cup competition in 2006 and 2010 but the U.S. beat Ghana in the opening group stage match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Americans last played in East Harford on Oct. 10, 2014, against Ecuador, which was Landon Donovan’s last national team match.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.