US Soccer has announced that the USA national team will kick off their 2014 World Cup preparations with a friendly with South Korea.
The US will host Hong Myung-bo's Taeguk Warriors at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on February 1, marking the first meeting between the two nations since the 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in Daegu.
US boss Juergen Klinsmann was looking forward to the first official hitout of 2014 against a very capable team who are currently ranked 54th in the world and have also booked their spot at the Brazil tournament next year.
"As a team that has qualified for Brazil, the Korea Republic will be another great benchmark for us," said Klinsmann. "They bring a different style of play than we have seen in the last two years, and that gives us a chance to grow.
"With only two or three games left before May, this will be an important opportunity for the players who will be finishing off the January camp. The message will be the same one we start with every time we get together: we are here to win."
