News / USA

US Soccer Launches New Apps Ahead of World Cup Qualifier

TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
The U.S. Soccer Federation has launched new Digital Magazine and Facebook apps as the men's team prepares to begin final regional qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Americans will take on host Honduras in San Pedro Sula Wednesday.

U.S. soccer's governing body is providing fans with exclusive content that they can download on iPads or iPhones, and says an Android version is coming soon.

The first issue of the Digital Magazine app, called "Anthem," is free and includes many features, like an inside look at the U.S. roster for the Honduras match, a gallery of photos and an interactive hexagonal schedule featuring the six regional CONCACAF teams that are in the final round of home and away qualifiers this year.

On Facebook, there is a Supporters XI (11) app, where fans can even pick who they would like to see in the starting lineup for the Honduras match.  Fans can also follow the game live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker   or on Twitter @ussoccer.

The other two CONCACAF regional qualifying matches Wednesday are Jamaica at Mexico and Costa Rica at Panama.  The second set of group games is scheduled for March 22, when the U.S. Soccer team will host Costa Rica in suburban Denver, Colorado.

Each team will play 10 matches in the final qualifying round which runs through mid-October.  The top three automatically advance to next year's World Cup.  The fourth place team will go to an intercontinental home and away playoff in November against the first place team from the Oceania Football Confederation.  The winner of that two-game series will also gain a World Cup berth.

You May Like

India, China Pledge to Overcome Border Tensions

Indian prime minister and Chinese premiere attempt to move past tense standoff in the Himalayas during Delhi talks More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

Video Washington Week: Focus on Burma, US Government Scandals

President Thein Sein visits the White House on Monday, Congressional probes of multiple scandals are continuing More

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Annual Event Helps Torture Treatment Center

Once a year, an event called Big Sunday Weekend mobilizes volunteers to help at different organizations and schools. One of the places volunteers visited this year is the Program for Torture Victims, a torture treatment center in Los Angeles. The center helps survivors heal and also provides testimony to help them gain asylum in the United States. From 2010 to 2012, the Program for Torture Victims worked with close to 700 survivors from more than 65 countries. Elizabeth Lee has details from Los Angeles.