The United States Men’s National Team will begin 2019 in the desert. U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the USMNT will open its 2019 slate with a friendly against Panama on Sunday, January 27th at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The fixture will be recently-hired manager Gregg Berhalter’s first match in charge, signaling that the delayed rebuild may now begin in earnest.
The Panama friendly precedes a previously announced match against Costa Rica on Friday, February 2nd at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. The USMNT traditionally hosts a January training camp which serves to identify up-and-coming talent and provide a fitness opportunity for out-of-season domestic and Scandinavian league players.