US, Mexico to play-off for Confederations Cup place
Central American side earn shot at 2017 event in Russia thanks to Gold Cup win
Philadelphia: Newly crowned Gold Cup champions Mexico will battle the United States in Pasadena, California, on October 9 for a place in the 2017 Fifa Confederations Cup.
Concacaf, football’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, confirmed the fixture shortly after Mexico captured their seventh Gold Cup regional title with a 3-1 victory over Jamaica in Sunday’s final.
The United States could have secured direct entry to the Confederations Cup — a key precursor to the 2018 World Cup — by retaining their Gold Cup crown, but they were stunned in the semi-finals by Jamaica before falling to Panama in the third-place match.
The Americans will play friendlies in September against Brazil and Peru before taking on Mexico at the Rose Bowl in October.
“We look toward to September to build things in order to be prepared for the play-off in October,” USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.
“The goal is always to go further in the next World Cup than we did in Brazil.”
