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USMNT Confirms Date, Opponent For First Match Since Covid

The U.S. men's national team confirmed Friday that it will return to play for the first time since February in a match against Wales next month.

The contest will be played Nov. 12 in Swansea, Wales. FS1 will televise the match, scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET.

U.S. Soccer said it is trying to schedule a second match in Europe. The Wales match will follow the UEFA Return to Play Protocol and will go on without fans in the stadium.

The team last played on Feb. 1, shutting out Costa Rica 1-0 in Carson, Calif.

"First and foremost, we are looking forward to getting the group together after such a challenging year," coach Gregg Berhalter said. "Wales is a quality opponent with high-level players, so it's a good opportunity to test ourselves. We appreciate all the work by the Football Association of Wales and here at U.S. Soccer to provide this opportunity to compete."

Wales is ranked No. 20 in the FIFA World Rankings and leads Group 4 in League B of the UEFA Nations League.

The U.S. is No. 22.

To further follow protocols related to COVID-19, the team and staff will stay in a bubble environment near Cardiff, Wales. Everyone taking part will be tested multiple times for the virus before traveling to the site, then tested upon arrival and at least every two days, U.S. Soccer said.

The United States and the Welsh team have played once before, a 2-0 win for the Landon Donovan-led Americans on May 26, 2003, in San Jose, Calif.

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