Thanks to their five-game unbeaten streak in CONCACAF Hexagonal play, the US national team's World Cup qualifier against Jamaica in Kansas City on Oct. 11 is shaping up as a coronation party, and now fans will have two more reasons to celebrate.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday that Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes and retired New England Revolution legend Joe-Max Moore will be officially inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame that afternoon at Sporting Park.
The Hall's Class of 2013 will be honored in a ceremony about four hours before the match's kickoff, and will later be recognized alongside current HOF members during the game itself, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm ET.
The occasion will be particularly special for Vermes, the head coach of Sporting Kansas City and a longtime member of the organization dating back to his playing days as an uncompromising defender when the team was known as the Wizards. He was nominated for the Hall of Fame on the “Veteran” ballot, which cited his long, successful career with MLS and the USMNT.
Moore, who got the nod via the “Player” ballot, scored 24 goals in 100 national-team appearances while netting 53 strikes in his six years of service in MLS.
The Friday evening match against Jamaica is the Yanks' second-to-last match (and last home date) of qualifying and with 13 points from six Hexagonal games thus far, they are on course to book their place in Brazil 2014 on or before that date.
