CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. men will host Costa Rica on Sept. 2 in Carson, Calif., a rare exhibition between the regional rivals.
U.S. Soccer announced the game Tuesday, the first of two September exhibitions. The Americans then play Belgium in Brussels four days later.
The U.S. and Costa Rica meet frequently in CONCACAF play, but this is their first exhibition since 1995. The Americans have an 11-11-6 record overall against the Ticos, including a 2-2 draw on Oct. 14, 2009, that cost Costa Rica a spot in last year’s World Cup. The tie dropped Costa Rica to fourth in North and Central American and Caribbean region qualifying, and the Ticos then lost to Uruguay in a playoff for the spot shared by CONCACAF and South America.