Thu May 15 13:11:23 2008

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U.S. announces World Cup semifinal home sites

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The United States men's national team will play World Cup semifinal round qualifying matches in Bridgeview, Ill., Washington, D.C. and Commerce City, Colo., if it defeats Barbados in the second round.

The United States, which plays friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina in the next month, plays the opening match of its home-and-away series against Barbados on June 15 at 5 p.m. (ET) at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The second leg of the series is June 22 at a time yet to be determined.

Should the United States advance, they will play their first home qualifier of the four-team semifinal round group on Sept. 10 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., at 8 p.m., against the winner of the Trinidad & Tobago-Bermuda series.

On Oct. 11, the United States would face either Cuba or Antigua & Barbuda at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. at 4 p.m.

Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., would host the USA's final match of the semifinals, with the team taking on either Guatemala or St. Lucia on Nov. 19 at 10 p.m.

Semifinal round qualifying in CONCACAF will take place from August to November in 2008, with the teams divided into three groups of four teams each. Playing a six-game round robin format, the top two finishers from each group advance to the final six-team group that will be played in 2009.

The U.S. is gearing up for a trio of blockbuster friendlies in advance of the Barbados match, beginning with a trip to famed Wembley Stadium for a May 28 clash with England. The U.S. will then face fourth-ranked Spain on June 4 at the Estadio El Sardinero in Santander, before heading back across the Atlantic to face No. 1-ranked Argentina on June 8 in New Jersey.