USA confirms friendly with Ghana on July 1

The United States national team will play Ghana on July 1 in East Hartford, Connecticut, to prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. Soccer confirmed on Monday.

As reported by ESPN FC last month, the game at Rentschler Field will serve as a tune-up ahead of group-stage games against Panama, Martinique, and Nicaragua.

Ghana, 45th in FIFA's most recent world ranking, and the No. 23 U.S. have never met outside of a World Cup. They faced off in each of the last three tournaments, with Ghana eliminating the U.S. in its first-round finale in Germany in 2006 and again four years later in the knockout stage in South Africa.

The Americans exacted some measure of revenge by winning 2-1 in 2014 in Brazil in the opening game for both nations -- a victory that helped the U.S. survive a difficult group that also included Portugal and eventual champion Germany.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena is expected to look at younger players in Gold Cup matches and leave off many of the team's regulars.

The Gold Cup is the biennial championship for the North, Central American and Caribbean region. Twelve teams take part in the tournament, which will be played in 14 U.S. cities from July 7-26.

The Americans last played in East Harford on Oct. 10, 2014, against Ecuador in Landon Donovan's last national team match.

The United States national team will play Ghana on July 1 in East Hartford, Connecticut, to prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. Soccer confirmed on Monday.

As reported by ESPN FC last month, the game at Rentschler Field will serve as a tune-up ahead of group-stage games against Panama, Martinique, and Nicaragua.

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