U.S. Soccer has selected Pratt & Whitney Stadium to host the USA’s Gold Cup tune-up on Saturday, July 1 against Ghana.
The Yanks are facing its biggest nemesis in World Cup competition, having played the Black Stars in each of the last three editions of the tournament.
Re- appointed Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah will use the game as a preparatory exercise for his team’s next World Cup qualification match against Congo in November.
Ghana have knocked the U.S. out of the World Cup twice – in 2006 and 2010 – while the MNT earned a 2-1 win in its opening group game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with goals from Clint Dempsey and John Brooks.
“Ghana is certainly a team that brings different challenges, and it’s the type of competition we need as we continue to develop our program,” U.S. MNT head coach Bruce Arena said.
“Winning the Gold Cup is one of our priorities in 2017, so this is an important opportunity. We’ve always had great support in Hartford, and look forward to more of the same this summer.”
The MNT holds a 3-1-1 record in East Hartford, the stadium having hosted matches in both World Cup Qualifying and the Gold Cup.
In the MNT’s last visit on Oct. 10, 2014 vs. Ecuador, U.S. Soccer said farewell to the USA’s all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan.
The match which will be honored in East Hartford, Conn kicks off at exactly 4:45.