Ford Field Hosts Gold Cup First Round, USA VS Canada
DETROIT (WWJ) - North American rivals USA and Canada will compete at Ford Field on Tuesday, June 7 at Ford Field in Detroit at 8 pm in the nightcap of a 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup first round doubleheader. Game 1 of the international soccer tournament's opening round will feature Panama vs. Guadeloupe, also at Ford Field at 6 pm.
For the first time in the venue's history, Ford Field will install a natural grass playing surface for this premier soccer event. The state-of-the-art grass field will be installed on top of the existing artificial turf playing surface used by the Detroit Lions.
Fans purchasing tickets for the Gold Cup doubleheader will see both games for one price. Tickets ($20, $30, $50, $60, $80, $100) can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or at the Ford Field box office.
The championship kicked off Sunday, as five-time and defending champion Mexico defeated El Salvador and Costa Rica defeated Cuba in the Group A doubleheader at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Group B competed on Monday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, as Jamaica triumphed over Grenada and the match between Honduras and Guatemala ended in a draw.
After Group C plays in Detroit, round-robin play will resume on Thursday, June 9, with Group A matches at Charlotte, North Carolina, and continue through June 14, whittling the field to the eight quarterfinalists, which will then begin knockout matches June 18 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Other teams the USA will encounter in round-robin play include Panama (June 11, 8 pm) and Guadeloupe (June 14, 9 pm).
A second doubleheader of quarterfinal matches is set for RFK Stadium in Washington on June 19, with a semifinal doubleheader on June 22 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The final will be played June 25 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
For more information on the Gold Cup, including standings, statistics and a full schedule of games, visit www.goldcup.org.
