Matt Besler and Graham Zusi will once again represent Sporting Kansas City on the international stage tonight as the U.S. Men's National Team resumes FIFA World Cup Qualifying at 9 p.m. CT in Costa Rica. The top two teams in The Hex square off at Estadio Nacional in the capital city of San Jose with the United States looking for their first ever win on Costa Rican soil (0-7-2 in nine previous trips).
That said, tonight's match is the United States first in the venue, which opened in 2011 and is a welcomed move from the notorious Estadio Ricardo Saprissa. Just ask Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes.
"I think it changes things dramatically," Vermes told ESPNFC.com's Jeff Carlisle. "I think there's a disconnect between the fans and the field. I think the other thing is that because that environment isn't as tight, there will be more air in the stadium; it will be more open so it won't be as tough physically on the field, as well. All of those pieces add up."
Zusi was in the starting lineup for the United States' 1-0 home victory over Costa Rica in March, a match that was played in snowy conditions and remains a controversial storyline ahead of tonight's rematch. He has played in eight of the team's last nine FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the U.S. is 9-1-2 in games that Zusi starts.
Besler has started each of the United States last four FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and ranks second among U.S. Men's National Team players with 816 minutes played in 2013. He started all three knockout round games en route to the CONCACAF Gold Cup championship this summer and has started seven games during the team's record 12-game winning streak.
The KC Cauldron and American Outlaws-Kansas City will be hosting a watch party at Johnny's Tavern in the Kansas City Power & Light District. Or you can catch the match live via the following options:
beIN SPORT
- Time Warner Cable: 1337 (HD), 337
- Verizon FiOS: 598 (HD)
- AT&T U-verse TV: 1662/3320 (HD), 662/3120
- DirecTV: 620 (HD)
- Dish Network: 392 (HD), 871 (HD)
Online
- beinsportplay.tv for Time Warner Cable subscribers
- ussoccer.com's MatchTracker
- Follow @ussoccer on Twitter
- MLSSoccer.com play-by-play
