U.S. Soccer To Move Forward With Cincy Match On Artificial Turf

The scheduled June 9 match between the USMNT and Venezuela will "go ahead as planned" at the Univ. of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium despite the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association last week stating its "opposition to playing the game" on the temporary grass surface, according to Patrick Brennan of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. U.S. Soccer officials said that they "plan to prepare a first-class temporary grass field for the June 9 match, which serves as the final preparation for the Americans prior to the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup." The match will be the first played by the USMNT in Cincinnati and it is "believed that's an important consideration, too." U.S. Soccer has "endeavored to take the national team to new cities and venues in recent years, and the trip to Nippert is in line with that." Setting a "precedent of not playing on temporary grass surfaces at artificial-turf venues would be a risky one for U.S. Soccer" (CINCINNATI.com, 4/19).