US national team finalizing international friendly at England in November

Clint Dempsey, Steven Gerrard - US national team vs. England - 2010 World Cup

The US national team are making plans to visit England for an international friendly this fall, adding another rugged match to the calendar as the program opens a new era in the wake of its failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.


In news originally reported by Goal.com, U.S. Soccer confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Sunday that a USMNT vs. England match in November is being finalized, at an English venue still to be determined. The occasion would pair with a US friendly vs. Italy that same month, a game that has been announced by Italy but not yet officially confirmed by the USSF.


For the Three Lions, the match will serve as a warm-up for a UEFA Nations League match vs. Croatia on Nov. 18. Meanwhile, the Stars & Stripes are expected to have hired a new head coach by that point, who would use the friendly to begin the rebuilding process with an eye towards the 2019 Gold Cup and possibly Copa America, as well as the road to 2022 World Cup qualifying.


The USMNT are already scheduled to host Bolivia in a friendly at Talen Energy Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union, on Memorial Day in May, and will visit Ireland and France for pre-World Cup friendlies in June.


The US and England have not faced off since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they drew 1-1 in a group-stage match before the USMNT won Group C by virtue of their last-gasp victory over Algeria. The last time the US visited the Three Lions for a game was a friendly in 2008.