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El Salvador and Guatemala to play friendly at RFK May 30th

1 May, 2008

After the El Salvadoran National Team drew over 22,000 fans to RFK for a match against tiny Anguilla in March, the team returns to face a more storied rival in Guatemala at the same venue at the end of this month.

With substantial El Salvadoran and Guatemalan populations residing in the greater Washington, DC region, the match could easily sell out RFK, becoming yet another of a long list of memorable soccer matches played at the historic stadium.

As a tune up for upcoming 2010 World Cup Qualifying for both sides, this match may be classified as a “friendly,” but may also represent the best chance for tens of thousands of regional fans of both teams to see their national team play live in anything resembling a World Cup Qualifier.

The odds of either team playing the US team in a Qualifier next year are certainly possible, but also unlikely as past matches at RFK for World Cup qualifying have been more like virtual “away games” for the US side.

In three previous meetings at the stadium between the two teams and the US National team, the combined attendance was 95,668, with two of those matches being official World Cup Qualifiers (November 3, 1996 and September 3, 2000, both wins over Guatemala).

With several smaller “soccer specific stadiums” built for MLS teams around the country since the 2000 match-up, the US Federation is unlikely to schedule any serious match for their team in a venue as large as RFK and so near such large populations that support the “away team.”

As for this match on the 30th, promoters have made the very interesting decision to sell tickets on a “general admission” basis. This means seats will be available on a first come, first served basis inside the stadium on game day. The ploy may be an attempt to ensure that fans of both teams can sit near each other rather than be forced to commingle. However, it will also make for a very interesting scene as the stadium gates are opened and fans stream in to get the best seats.

Assigned seats or not, for serious fans of soccer, this match should be a can’t-miss, even if you don’t support either team directly. More casual fans or families with children may be a bit overwhelmed, if not completely intimidated by the scene however, and will want to plan carefully for what color to wear, when to arrive on stadium grounds, and where to attempt to sit.

Tickets are already on sale and being handled by the D.C. United ticket office at 202-587-5000. Advance tickets are $30 for groups of 10 or more, single tickets or day of game price is $35. Mezzanine seats will be assigned seating and are available in advance for groups at $40 or in singles and day of game for $50.

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