USA announces dates for pre-Copa America friendlies and Florida WC2018 qualifier

Jurgen Klinsmann’s United States soccer squad, in jeopardy of missing the final round of North American 2018 World Cup qualifying, announced details Tuesday on a key qualifier and two Copa America Centenario warmups.

The Americans, who will host the special 100th anniversary edition of the South American tournament in June, will face Ecuador on May 25 in Frisco, Texas, and Bolivia three days later in Kansas City, as preparation for their Copa opener June 3 against Colombia.

And the US Soccer Federation announced the September 6 home qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-final group stage of World Cup qualifying will be played at Jacksonville, Florida.

The Americans are third in Group C at 1-1-1 for four points, three behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago and two adrift of Guatemala with only two teams advancing to next year’s “Hexagonal” final round to determine World Cup 2018 qualifiers from the North American region.

Klinsmann, the former German star who guided the Americans into the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, has come under fire for the US qualifying struggles.

The US squad, which has reached the past seven World Cups, played a goal-less draw at Trinidad and Tobago last November and is 16-2 with four drawn all-time against the Soca Warriors, including an 11-0 with one drawn mark at home.

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The Americans are also unbeaten in Jacksonville’s EverBank Field, beating Israel 2-1 in 1997, Germany 3-0 in 1999, Scotland 5-1 in 2012 and Nigeria 2-1 in 2014.

Ecuador, pacing the South American World Cup qualifying table, owns a 5-2 with five drawn edge on the US team in their all-time rivalry. The Americans are 0-2 with four drawn all-time against Bolivia.