Orlando likely to host U.S. World Cup qualifier

ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. Soccer Federation is closing in on agreements to host its last two home World Cup qualifiers in Orlando, Florida, and Harrison, New Jersey.

The Americans would play Costa Rica in Orlando on Sept. 1 and Panama in Harrison on Oct. 6. The sites were first reported Tuesday by Sports Illustrated.

The contracts have not been signed, and officials declined to comment on the game locations.

The U.S. has four points after four games and is fourth in the hexagonal of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, trailing Mexico (10), Costa Rica (seven) and Panama, and ahead of Honduras (four) and Trinidad and Tobago (three).

The top three nations qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia, and the No. 4 team advances to a playoff against Asia's fifth-place finisher.

Up next is an exhibition against Venezuela on June 3 at Sandy, Utah, followed by qualifiers against Trinidad at Commerce City, Colorado, on June 8 and at Mexico City three days later.

City leaders in Orlando were hoping that hosting the qualifier game, as well as three games in the Copa America Centenario last summer, would help in a bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

Former U.S. soccer star Alexi Lalas believes Orlando would be a good place to host the World Cup.

"Absolutely, this would be a spot," he said. "Because of the fact there is a history, but also because of what Orlando soccer is now and certainly what it could be in 2026."

Cox Media Group