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“Coming to America”

December 3, 2013
Korean soccer fans in Los Angeles will get to see Hong Jung-ho, left, and Kim Shin-wook in action upclose early next year.

Korean soccer fans in Los Angeles will get to see Hong Jung-ho, left, and Kim Shin-wook in action up close early next year.

By Lee Kyutae

Korean soccer is coming to America. The Brazil-bound Korean men’s national team will face Mexico on January 29, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, and then the United States on Feb. 1 in Carson, California, during its preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Kickoff at the Alamodome for the first game is set for 8 p.m. C.T. and the second game at StubHub Center is set for 2 p.m. P.T. Broadcast details will be announced in the near future.

Korea’s record against Mexico is 4-5-1 but the Koreans won the last meeting 1-0 in 2006 in Los Angeles and the Mexican side has struggled in 2013.

Two day later, Korea and the USA meet for the first time since the group phase of the 2002 World Cup, where the U.S. played the hosts to a 1-1 draw. “As a team that has qualified for Brazil, the Korea Republic will be another great benchmark for us,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “They bring a different style of play than we have seen in the last two years, and that gives us a chance to grow. With only two or three games left before May, this will be an important opportunity for the players who will be finishing off the January camp. The message will be the same one we start with every time we get together: we are here to win.”

Overall, the U.S. has a 1-3-2 record against Korea, which has qualified for its eighth World Cup tournament.

StubHub Center will be the site of the USA’s first match of the year for the seventh time since 2004, with the U.S. posting a 3-1-2 record in those games. The occasion holds special significance for U.S. forward Landon Donovan, who set the USA’s all-time scoring record during the 3-2 win against Sweden in the opening game of the 2008 campaign.

The U.S. has concluded a record-setting campaign in 2013 with both the most victories (16) and best winning percentage (.761) in team history. Having reached the World Cup final competition for the seventh-consecutive time, the USA finished in first place in qualifying in the CONCACAF region for the third straight cycle. After completing a team-record 12-game winning streak, the U.S. also finished the year with a plus-28 goal differential.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. P.T. through ussoccer.com, by calling 1-888-929-7849, and at the StubHub Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.

As a sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa is pleased to offer all Visa cardholders access to an advance ticket sale for this match before the sale to the general public. This advance sale starts Thursday, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m. PT and runs until Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 a.m. PT at ussoccer.com. Visa will be the only payment method accepted through the Visa presale and is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. Terms and conditions apply.