BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire has announced that the Fire and 670 The Score will team up to host a special World Cup viewing party for the high-profile Group E match-up featuring the United States and Italy this Saturday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. CT at Toyota Park. Free admission and parking will be available for the event, which begins when gates open at 12:00 p.m., and regular gameday concessions will also be sold throughout the stadium.
The U.S.-Italy match will be shown in a fashion as grand as the 2006 FIFA World Cup itself on the stadium's massive 39' x 22' Jumbotron, located above the stage on the Bridgeview Stadium's south end. Adding to the atmosphere will be 670 The Score on-air personality Mike Mulligan, co-host of the weekday morning "Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley Show," who will be airing live updates from Toyota Park back to The Score's studio throughout the contest.
The United States Men's National Team is currently in its fifth straight World Cup final - and eighth overall - and has gathered what most consider the strongest U.S. team ever assembled. This year's World Cup squad is led by a mix of both youth and experience, with Manchester City midfielder and U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, Arlington Heights native and Fulham forward Brian McBride, German-based goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Los Angeles Galaxy playmaker Landon Donovan leading the way. The Fire has certainly put its stamp on the U.S. World Cup squad, with a trio of former Fire standouts - midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, defender Carlos Bocanegra and forward Josh Wolff - all expected to make their respective marks against the Azzuri (sky blues) of Italy and the U.S.'s other two group opponents, the Czech Republic (June 12) and Ghana (June 22).
An ensemble of both MLS and European-based talent collected an impressive 7-2-1 record in World Cup Qualifying leading up to the tournament's finals, going undefeated on American soil while tying Mexico for the top spot in the CONCACAF region. The Americans are the only CONCACAF team to ever reach the semifinal round at the FIFA World Cup Finals, finishing in third place in the 1930 tournament in Uruguay. The U.S. men last faced Italy on February 13, 2002, suffering a 1-0 loss against the Azzuri in Catania, Italy.
As three-time World Cup champions (1934, 1938, 1982), Italy has as rich and successful a tradition in the FIFA World Cup as any other team in the world outside the five-time champions from Brazil. Though much of Italy's soccer news of late has been focused on a match-fixing scandal that has shocked the country's Serie A top division, it is the names of the Italian players that will suit up against the U.S. that should get the main focus of American fans. Italy boasts a star-studded lineup that play for such top Italian clubs as AC Milan (Allesandro Nesta, Alberto Gilardino), Juventus (Gianluigi Buffon, Allesando Del Piero, Fabio Cannavaro), and AS Roma (Francesco Totti).
For more information on the U.S. vs. Italy 2006 FIFA World Cup viewing party, or other Chicago Fire events at Toyota Park, including the June 25 Grand Opening contest, please visit www.Chicago-Fire.com or call 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
