WASHINGTON—The U.S. national team didn’t intend to close out this inconvenient international window against New Zealand, which currently is ranked 88th in the world.
The Americans originally had hoped to play Ghana on Tuesday here at RFK Stadium. But when the Black Stars were prevented from coming by a FIFA rule prohibiting excess exhibition travel, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff were left scrambling. Most decent teams are involved in World Cup qualifying this week, and there wasn’t much interest in scheduling another CONCACAF opponent a month before the Hexagonal kicks off. So the All Whites filled in, leaving the Americans to prepare for November’s showdowns with Mexico and Costa Rica with friendlies against overmatched semi-pros from Cuba and a Kiwi squad no one would place among the sport’s elite.