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The United States men’s national team announced it will play a friendly against Morocco in June as preparation for the 2022 World Cup. Cincinnati, Ohio, will host the friendly at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.
We're coming back, Cincy!
— USMNT: Qualified. (@USMNT) April 20, 2022
We've only played at @TQLStadium once, but it was pretty unforgettable.
See you in June, Cincy pic.twitter.com/qPp6ewfKi0— USMNT: Qualified. (@USMNT) April 21, 2022
The decision for the friendly to be played in Ohio has seriously ticked off some USMNT pundits and fans. I can’t say that I blame the upset fans either.
Ohio has treated the USMNT well, but come on.
50 States, some will never see their National up close.You’ve already qualified. Spread the love. #FutbolAmericas https://t.co/LfGwlR7B7i
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) April 20, 2022
I want someone to look at me the way the USMNT looks at Ohio.
— Danny Daveggia (@DannyDaveggia) April 20, 2022
Someone get @USMNT a map of the US. There are states other than Ohio https://t.co/kq8QKKf9x9
— Gabrielle Dean (@gab589) April 21, 2022
Yeah for how many times!!! Grow the game in Hispanic communities so young kid can aspire to become the next generation talent.
— Jonathan (@Jxortiz__) April 20, 2022
Y’all know you can play games outside of Ohio right? Like the northeast also exists if you didn’t know
— anthony (@HoodieAlonso) April 20, 2022
Of the last six USMNT games played in the States, half of them have been played in Ohio. The same state that produced the greatest music video of all-time explaining why it sucks will have statistically hosted 57% of the USMNT home games across a nine-month span.
USMNT Games In Ohio Since Oct. 2021
Oct. 13: World Cup Qualifying, USMNT vs. Costa Rica (Lower.com Field in Columbus)
Nov. 12: World Cup Qualifying, USMNT vs. Mexico (TQL Stadium in Cincinnati)
Jan. 27: World Cup Qualifying, USMNT vs. El Salvador (Lower.com Field in Columbus)
June 1: Friendly, USMNT vs. Morocco (TQL Stadium in Cincinnati)
The USWNT has also played three of their last nine home games in Ohio.
Cover your children’s ears because this obsession with Ohio getting all the national team games is bullshit.
There are 49 other states to pick from. I can begrudgingly accept the fact that Ohio has some of the best USMNT home-field advantage, especially during World Cup qualifying. Therefore I can understand Ohio hosting a couple for qualifying, but Cincinnati getting this Morocco friendly is ridiculous.
Providence Park in Portland, Oregon — literally nicknamed Soccer City, USA —has only ever hosted the USMNT four times, with the most recent being 2013.
If you exclude Florida — a state the USMNT has played in 51 times — the national team hasn’t played on the East Coast since Sept. 2019, when Mexico mauled the Americans at MetLife Stadium 3-0.
But noooo let’s just keep going to Ohio for every game.
Thankfully Cleveland doesn’t have a soccer-specific stadium or else the USMNT might just never leave Ohio. That still hasn’t stopped the team from playing in the Cleveland Browns stadium four times since 2006 and most recently in 2019.
Let some other American fans see the national team.
