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USA Soccer cancels plans for men’s team to train in Doha
LOS ANGELES, Jan 4, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The US Soccer Federation said Friday
it had cancelled plans for the men’s national team to train in Doha, Qatar,
this month “due to the developing situation in the region.”
The decision was announced after the United States assassinated top
Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in an air attack in Iraq’s
capital Baghdad.
The federation said it was seeking a new site for the training camp,
scheduled for January 5-25, in the United States.
The Americans are scheduled to play a friendly match against Costa Rica on
February 1 in Carson, California, near Los Angeles.
“We are working with the Qatar Football Association to find an opportunity
in the near future for our team to experience Qatar’s world-class facilities
and hospitality,” USA Soccer said in its statement.
US Soccer had hoped the camp in Qatar would give players a chance to check
out the country that will host the 2022 World Cup.
US coach Gregg Berhalter had already called 25 players to participate in
the training camp, most of them Major League Soccer players.
BSS/AFP/SSS/0853 hrs