U.S. to start World Cup send-off series in San Francisco

The U.S. national team will play friendlies against Azerbaijan, Turkey and Nigeria before heading off to Brazil for the World Cup in June.

The first match, against Azerbaijan at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, will be played May 27, following the team’s two-week World Cup training camp at Stanford. The game will be the first between senior teams from the U.S. and Azerbaijan.

The Americans will then head for the East Coast, where they will play Turkey on June 1 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

The farewell match will take place June 7 in Jacksonville, Fla., against Nigeria, the only one of the three opponents who have also qualified for the World Cup.

The U.S. will fly to Brazil after that game.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the schedule we have put together for the send-off series,” U.S. Coach Juergen Klinsmann said in a release. “We have some fantastic opponents that will help us get prepared for the teams we will meet in the World Cup, and also the opportunity to experience different climates and conditions in the venues.

“It’s the perfect way to start our journey.”

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