U.S. Men's National Team to hold Pre-World Cup Training Camp in Cary, North Carolina
Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 7pm
January 19, 2006
U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TO HOLD PRE-WORLD CUP TRAINING CAMP IN CARY, NORTH CAROLINA
U.S Returns to Site of Pre-2002 World Cup Training Site;
Training Camp to Begin May 9 at SAS Soccer Park
CHICAGO (January 19, 2006) – The U.S. Men's National Team has selected SAS Soccer Park in Cary as their base training camp prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The team will begin final preparations for Germany on May 9 in Cary, and will train for approximately two weeks at the facility. The team's schedule in Cary has not yet been finalized.
"We're extremely pleased that Cary will once again be our base for training camp prior to the World Cup," said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena. "The facilities are outstanding, and our players and staff felt extremely welcome in the area. There's no question the camp in Cary was important to our success in the 2002 World Cup, and we're looking forward to another great experience as we prepare our team for Germany."
The U.S. team used Cary as its base of operations prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, where the team reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 71 years. During the camp that kicked off May 1 of that year, the team played a friendly against the Richmond Kickers at SAS Soccer Park.
"It is an honor to welcome these outstanding players to Cary," said Cary Mayor Ernie McAlister. "Hosting this camp for the second time in a row only strengthens the fact that our facilities are second to none, and we look forward to bringing more professional players to Cary to take advantage of our recreational resources."
In September 2005, the Town of Cary initiated an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) to select SAS Soccer Park as a site for one of their training camps. A proposal was sent from the Town to the Men's National Team, which led to dialogue between the Town and the USSF. Following a visit from U.S. assistant coach Glenn Myernick in December 2005, negotiations began and a contract was signed in January 2006.
The USA was drawn into Group E for the 2006 FIFA World Cup along with the Czech Republic, Ghana, and Italy. The U.S. plays their opening match against the Czechs on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen at 12 p.m. ET. Five days later, the USA faces Italy in Kaiserslautern, and then finishes off group play against Ghana on June 22 in Nuremberg. The U.S. has chosen the northern port city of Hamburg as their base of operations throughout the tournament.