Chicago to Host Soccer's NIT

By Todd McClamroch in News on May 23, 2006 8:15PM

During a two-year process, approximately 200 nations competed for one of 32 coveted spots in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals. What are the rest of the teams left to do while the best teams prepare for the world's biggest sporting event? Many are scheduled to be opponents in final warm-up matches for teams that have qualified.

The United States, for example, is simulating the first round of the World Cup by playing three matches in five days in three different cities. They start off with a match against Morocco tonight in Nashville (6pm on ESPN) then play Venezuela and Latvia on May 26 and May 28.

Three teams that did not qualify for the World Cup are coming to Chicago this weekend for a series of matches. Friday night at 8pm, Romania will take on Norhtern Ireland at Soldier Field. The Romanian team returns to the pitch the next afternoon for a 2:30 start versus Colombia. Tickets for these international matches are still available from Ticketmaster.

The World Cup begins on June 9th. Chicagoist has a feeling a case of the flu might start up right about then. *cough cough*