United States to host Czech Republic in World Cup warmup match

US to play Czechs in World Cup warmup match

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. will play the Czech Republic in a World Cup warmup match May 25 before meeting Turkey four days later at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

The site of the U.S.-Czech match was not announced Wednesday, but the U.S. Soccer Federation has discussed East Hartford, Conn., as a possible location for the opener of its World Cup send-off tour.

“We are very pleased to get two quality opponents in the Czech Republic and Turkey,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “These games will provide a great opportunity to fine-tune our plans for the matches in South Africa and test ourselves against some of the better teams in Europe.”

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Czechs outplayed the Americans in the tournament opener for both teams, winning 3-0. In 1990, Czechoslovakia routed the U.S. 5-1 in the Americans’ return to the World Cup following a 40-year absence.

The Czech Republic failed to advance to the 32-nation field for this year’s World Cup in South Africa, finishing behind Slovakia and Slovenia in its European qualifying group.

Turkey, a 2002 World Cup semifinalist, also failed to qualify, finishing behind Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The U.S. has played the Turks twice before, a 1-1 tie at Istanbul in 2001 and a 2-1 U.S. loss at the 2003 Confederations Cup in Saint-Etienne, France.

Preparing for its sixth straight World Cup appearance, the U.S. hosts El Salvador on Feb. 24 at Tampa, Fla., then plays March 3 at the Netherlands.

At the World Cup in South Africa, the U.S. opens June 12 against England, plays Slovenia six days later and completes the first round against Algeria on June 23.