The U.S. national team will kick off its 2016 campaign with a pair of friendlies against Iceland and Canada in California next month, the first games of a crowded year that will include World Cup Qualifying and the Copa America Centenario.
U.S. Soccer announced the matches on Tuesday, both being played at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The U.S. will take on Iceland on Jan. 31 (12:45 p.m. PT) and Canada on Feb. 5 (7:15 p.m. PT).
Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey (10 caps in 2015) and midfielder/defender Brad Evans (8 caps) are both possibilies to be called into the USMNT's annual January camp, as are Sounders FC Academy product Jordan Morris and former defender DeAndre Yedlin.
This will be the first meeting between the U.S. and Iceland in more than 20 years, the teams splitting the lifetime series with a 2-2-2 record dating back to 1955. The tiny island nation made history when they qualified for the 2016 European Championship, twice defeating 2014 World Cup bronze medalists Netherlands in qualifying as they finished second in their group and advanced to a major tournament for the first time.
"Iceland is one of the up-and-coming soccer nations in Europe," U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "They have been really impressive in qualifying for the European Championship for the first time, and they have earned huge compliments for their youth player development. Their players are now spread across the big leagues in Europe."
The U.S. and Canada are no strangers, having played 32 times since 1925. The USMNT is unbeaten against its northern neighbors for the last 35 years, a run that includes eight wins and 13 shutouts.
The U.S. will resume World Cup Qualifying in March before participating in the Copa America Centenario on American soil in June.
