Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Wednesday 6 september 2017

Arena thinks U.S. immigration debate fires up opposing players

of that,” he said Monday. and support their team. Orlando, Florida.
“Obviously our country is So we have to be shrewd in “I haven’t looked into that.
unique to other countries. the venues that we select Am I going to find out that
We’re a melting pot and to play different countries.” there’s a big Panamanian
all the countries in CONCA- The last U.S. home quali- population in Orlando?”
CAF, many of their country- fier in the final round of the Arena said.
men make it to the United North and Central Ameri- “I would sense that Or-
States in one capacity or can and Caribbean region lando is going to be very
other and they’ll come out is Oct. 6 against Panama in much pro-American.”q

U.S. coach Bruce Arena speaks at a news conference at Estadio
Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Monday,
Sept. 4, 2017, ahead of a World Cup qualifier Tuesday.

By RONALD BLUM visitors were a sizeable por-
AP Sports Writer tion of the sellout crowd of
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras 26,500.
(AP) — American coach Costa Rica won 2-0, giving
Bruce Arena thinks the di- the U.S. two home qualify-
visive debate over immi- ing losses in a World Cup
gration policy in the United cycle for the first time since
States is firing up opposing 1957. “It was already de-
players and fans. cided, but I don’t think
“Our immigration policies we should play in a venue
are impacting people in that’s comfortable for the
Central America, right, and visiting team,” said Arena,
there’s probably a little bit who replaced Jurgen Klins-
of anger over that,” Arena mann in November.
said ahead of Tuesday’s “I don’t think it made a dif-
World Cup qualifier at Hon- ference in the game.”
duras. The U.S. had lost just one
“And then your national home qualifier in 50 match-
sport gets a chance to play es since 1985 before a 2-1
the U.S. I’m sure it becomes defeat against Mexico in
very meaningful.” November at Columbus,
Arena also criticized the Ohio.
U.S. Soccer Federation’s Last week’s game was the
decision to play last week’s first World Cup qualifier in
World Cup qualifier against the New York metropolitan
Costa Rica at Red Bull Are- area.
na in Harrison, New Jersey. “We don’t get any luxu-
While ticket priority was giv- ries of going on the road
en to season-ticket holders and everything is nice and
of the New York Red Bulls comfortable and we’ve
and people affiliated with got a good fan base com-
the USSF, supporters of the ing out to the game and all