The Republic of Ireland are to play Team USA in an international soccer friendly on November 18th.
This is the dawn of a new era for Irish soccer with Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane at the helm and the FAI has produced another marquee friendly which will attract a significant crowd to the Aviva Stadium.
It will be only the third game the USA will play in Europe this year, the others being against Ukraine before the World Cup and the Czech Republic in Prague in September.
Surge of Interest
After the surge of interest in the team during their run to the knock out stages of the World Cup last month, the game is likely to attract Irish fans, US fans from across Western Europe, and corporate interest from US based multi national companies here in Ireland.
It also completes an impressive line up for the FAI’s season ticket package, which includes six games for the 2014/15 season. Ireland will take on Oman, Gibraltar, USA, Poland, Scotland and England as part of this year’s package. Season tickets start at just €138 for adults and €54 for kids.
Cross sport cooperation
It would be a good example of cross sport co-operation for the FAI and GAA to work together on promotions around the Croke Park Classic on August 30th and this game, both of which will attract significant US interest and both of which could benefit from exposure to the other’s core fan base that is being reached out to for these two special events outside of their normal routine.
Another major winner for the sport would be to seek to attract the US Women’s National Team to play on the same night. They are involved in a qualifying tournament for the Women’s World Cup in October but appear to have a free schedule at that time of year and a double header would add to the appeal of the fixture and be a major winner for Women’s sport in this country.
The USA has already sold out a pre-season friendly against Switzerland taking place in North Carolina later this month.
