When BBVA Compass Stadium opened last May, the promise of not only Dynamo soccer but international soccer was a major appeal to the Houston community. Since then, the downtown venue has hosted a Mexico-Guyana World Cup qualifier and the penultimate match of the U.S. women’s national team gold medal victory tour. Next Tuesday, BBVA Compass Stadium will have its first opportunity to host a U.S. men’s national team match, and after this morning’s news from CONCACAF, another high-quality national team fixture might not be far away.
CONCACAF announced Wednesday morning that BBVA Compass Stadium is one of the 13 venues that will host matches in the 2013 Gold Cup that will run from July 7-28. With its rich soccer history and diverse population, it’s no surprise that Houston was chosen as a host city for the tournament. Reliant Stadium hosted the 2011 Gold Cup semifinals and was packed to the rafters with fans of the El Tri and the U.S. national team.
VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST OF GOLD CUP HOST VENUES
“It’s great to see the Gold Cup coming to BBVA Compass Stadium,” said Dynamo president Chris Canetti. “I think it makes a statement that BBVA Compass Stadium is highly regarded as a top venue and Houston as a top market for international soccer matches. I am happy that CONCACAF recognizes these very important aspects and has awarded us with the games.”
Aside from the stadium being decked out in orange, the Dynamo could have at least one player participating in this summer’s tournament. Boniek Garcia’s Honduran squad qualified for the 2013 Gold Cup after finishing the Central American Cup group stage with an 0-0-2 record. Los Catrachos will face Belize on Friday in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final to take on the winner of Costa Rica and El Salvador.
The Dynamo will not lose any of their Jamaican players for this summer’s tournament, after the Reggae Boyz failed to advance out of their group in the 2012 Caribbean Cup. With three Dynamo players currently in camp with the U.S. men’s national team, it’s possible any of Will Bruin, Tally Hall and Brad Davis could earn a call-up this summer, but official rosters will not be announced until late June.
