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Reggae Boyz face USA in Gold Cup warm-up

Published:Thursday | April 25, 2019 | 1:30 PM
Jamaica's Darren Mattocks (right) tackles the US' Omar Gonzalez during the second half of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in Santa Clara, California on July 26, 2017.
AP
Jamaica's Darren Mattocks (right) tackles the US' Omar Gonzalez during the second half of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in Santa Clara, California on July 26, 2017.

The Senior Reggae Boyz will have a high level quality preparation match for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, when they meet the US Men’s national team in a rematch of the 2017 final, when the two teams meet in an international friendly on June 5 in Washington, D.C.

Kickoff at the Audi Field is set for 7p.m. ET.

A USA vs Jamaica friendly in the context of the history of the two teams and the upcoming Tournament can be considered not only a major fan attraction game but a excellent preparation for the two teams.

"It’s an excellent game to assess the quality of the squad assembled. Further, the timing is good, twelve days before our first game in the tournament and the opponent is perfect; it’s now down to fine-tuning all aspects of the preparation and that is what we are currently doing," stated Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore.

"As we prepare for the start of the Gold Cup, this is the perfect opportunity in terms of opponent and venue,” added U.S. MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter. “Playing against Jamaica we get exposure to another different style of play, and one that we may see later in the tournament."

The Reggae Boyz are drawn in Group C for the tournament alongside Curacao, Honduras and El Salvador and will begin its journey in Jamaica on June 17 when they face Honduras at the National Stadium.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will begin its quest for a record-tying seventh confederation title when they face Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Panama in Group D.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com and the JFF is encouraging fans in the diaspora to secure tickets and support the national team.

The match marks the 26th all-time meeting between the teams and while the United States holds a 15-2-8 lead in the lifetime series, the Reggae Boyz are one of only two teams in history – along with Brazil – to knock the USA out in the Gold Cup semi-finals, which they did in the 2015 edition of the tournament.

The Reggae Boyz are seeking a third consecutive trip to the final of the confederation championship. They advanced to the tournament through their participation in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League qualifying. For the first time in Gold Cup history, Jamaica will host matches in the group stage.