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Soccer Fri Jun 05 2009
Soldier Field Near Sold Out for the US, er, Honduran National Team
The US plays Honduras in a vital World Cup Qualifier this Saturday night at Soldier Field. With over 50,000 tickets sold, chances are most of the fans won't be there for the US, considering their last match drew less than 11,000.
Last Wednesday in Costa Rica, the US learned just how big an impact a hometown crowd can make, as they went down in flames in front of a boisterous Costa Rican crowd (though let's be clear - the crowd was maybe the least of their problems on a night when they played miserably). One of the disadvantages of being a melting pot, is that the US rarely ever enjoys such an advantage at home with so many fans choosing to support the country of their heritage, rather than the one of their residence. Though that's clearly an understandable choice, what's less understandable is why the US Soccer Federation chose to play such an important match in Chicago, where a high Honduran turnout was always likely.
Krasny / June 5, 2009 4:44 PM
Was it really "always likely"? this isn't exactly a honduran hotbed and the us has gotten good support here before for neutral matches.
I think people are making too much of it, no one knows what the turnout will be like; in the end the players will show what they think of the decision.