Colorado to host U.S.' first World Cup qualifier of 2013

Landon Donovan and the U.S. lost to Costa Rica in 1-0 in September 2011.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

CHICAGO (AP) -- The U.S. soccer team will play its first home game in the final round of World Cup qualifying against Costa Rica on March 22 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

Seeking their seventh straight World Cup appearance, the Americans open the 10-game round against Honduras on Feb. 6 at San Pedro Sula. The game in Colorado will give the U.S. players several days of training at altitude before they play at Mexico on March 26 in their third qualifier of the final round.

The Americans have played one qualifier previously at the venue, beating Guatemala 2-0 in 2008.

Jamaica and Panama also are in the six-team finals. The top three nations qualify for the 2014 tournament in Brazil and the fourth-place team advances to a playoff, likely against New Zealand.

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the site Tuesday.

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