United States to face New Zealand in World Cup qualifiers warm-up

Chicago - The U.S. men's national team will play host to New Zealand in an October football friendly at Washington as a warm-up for the start of final-round qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

The Americans will meet the All Whites on Oct. 11 at RFK Stadium in their first friendly since 2003, with the U.S. beating the Kiwis 2-1 in both prior meetings.

If U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann's squad gets through the semi-final round of North American qualifying for the 2018 Russia World Cup, the team would begin a six-country round robin qualifying tournament known as "The Hex" starting November 11.

The Stars and Stripes are 15-3-5 (W-L-D) at RFK Stadium, the venue where the team has made its most-ever appearances.

Remaining U.S. matches in the North American semii-final round qualifying will be played Sept. 1 at St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Sept. 6 against Trinidad and Tobago at Jacksonville, Florida.