U.S. Men’s National Team to face Canada on Jan. 29 in Houston in opening match of 2013

The U.S. Men’s National Team will open the 2013 campaign when it hosts regional rival Canada on Jan. 29 in Houston. Kickoff at BBVA Compass Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CT, with broadcast details still to be finalized.

The match comes at the end of the annual January camp and is the only game prior to the start of final round qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off for the United States on Feb. 6 against Honduras in San Pedro Sula. U.S. Soccer will be celebrating its 100-year Anniversary in 2013, and will be hosting a number of events throughout the year to celebrate.

“The match against Canada will come at the end of an important training camp as we get players ready for the World Cup qualifier against Honduras, and also get a good look at some up and coming players in the National Team pool,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Obviously we have a great history with Canada, and they were unlucky not to qualify for the final round. The stadium in Houston is awesome and the fans have been incredibly supportive there, so for us it’s a great way to start off the centennial year of U.S. Soccer.”

As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team will host a public training session on Monday, Jan. 28, at BBVA Compass Stadium. Admission and parking for the event are free. More details will be available in the near future.

Overall, the United States has done exceptionally well against Canada for the past two decades. The U.S. is in the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak (8-0-7) since dropping a 2-0 decision to Canada on April 2, 1985, in Vancouver. The lifetime series record stands at 13-8-10 in the USA’s favor, including a 10-1-8 record on home soil.

The teams last met June 3, 2012, dueling to a scoreless draw in Toronto. The match celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Canadian Soccer Association, and also preceded the start of the semifinal round qualifying.

BBVA Compass Stadium will host the U.S. Men’s National Team for the first time, the home of 2012 MLS Cup runners up Houston Dynamo having opened last year. The U.S. has never lost in Houston, collecting a 1-0-2 record that includes two draws against Mexico and a 1-0 win against Panama in the semifinal round of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will continue its bid to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup when the Hexagonal opens on Feb. 6, 2013, on the road against Honduras. The U.S. is joined by Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama as the final six teams set to compete in the 10-game round-robin format from Feb. 6-Oct. 15, 2013. The top three teams automatically advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will contest a two-game playoff against the winner of the Oceania region.