Team USA begins training at UNF

USMNT using Jacksonville weather to prepare for upcoming matches

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With two matches to go in the Semifinal Round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team still has a lot to play for. Team USA will have two games in the span of less than a week, starting with Friday’s match against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2 in Kingstown.

Four days later the MNT will close out Group C play against Trinidad and Tobago at EverBank Field. In order to prepare for the hot and humid weather conditions during these next two matches, the team will train in Jacksonville on the campus of the University of North Florida.

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“You just come out here and the sun is beaming,” said USA midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. “The humidity levels are high so it definitely helps our preparation. Guys are coming from all over the place. Obviously, coming over from Europe these are very different conditions over here. It’s way hotter out here. So being in Jacksonville will help us get our lungs prepared for what we’ll be facing.”

U.S. Men’s National team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann also made one roster change ahead of Friday’s match against St. Vincent. He called Sacha Kljestan into training camp. The New York Red Bulls midfielder will replace defender John Brooks who is suffering from back issues.