photo by Florian Eisele/ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team's final preparations for World Cup qualifying will begin in January with a pair of friendlies against Venezuela and Panama, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday.
The United States will open its 2012 schedule on Jan. 21 at 9pm ET with a friendly at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Four days later, the Americans travel to Panama City to take on Panama in the first-ever friendly between the sides.
The two friendlies do not fall on international fixture dates, meaning the teams will largely be made up of domestic-based players.
Unlike the last few years, the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. was not selected as a venue for a January friendly.
What do you think of the United States' first friendlies of 2012? Who would you like to see called in? Happy/upset that the Home Depot Center is not hosting a January friendly?
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