USMNT to play Puerto Rico in first pre-Copa America Centenario friendly
The United States will play Puerto Rico for the first time ever in a pre-Copa America Centenario friendly on May 22nd. The match will kick off at 12 p.m. ET, live on FS1.
Because all Puerto Ricans born in the territory are granted American citizenship at birth, the Puerto Rico team that plays the U.S. will be made up of players who were eligible for the American team before being cap-tied to Puerto Rico. If that's not a first, it's certainly rare.
The U.S. team will begin training camp in Miami on May 16. That is when Europe and Mexico-based players will begin training for Copa America. MLS players will join up a week later, so the team that takes on Puerto Rico won't be the Americans' strongest team. With that it mind, the match could be used as an opportunity for fringe players to earn their place on the Copa America team.
Puerto Rico is the 152nd ranked team in the world so they won't give the U.S. much of a challenge. The Americans should cruise to victory, but it will be a nice way to start off training camp.
After playing Puerto Rico, the U.S. will take on Ecuador on May 25, then Bolivia on May 28. Those matches will be stiffer challenges for an American team that heads into Copa America Centenario needing to play well after a rough 18 months that has confidence in Jurgen Klinsmann at an all-time low.
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