Trinidad stadium no longer flooded ahead of U.S.'s crucial World Cup qualifier (Photos)
UPDATE: All of the standing water at Ato Boldon Stadium has been cleared and the field is ready to go for Tuesday night’s game:
Here is the current state of the field at Ato Boldon Stadium. Big change from yesterday. Ground feels pretty firm as well. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/Gja4qAfwxq
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 10, 2017
The pumps worked #USAvTRI #usmnt pic.twitter.com/5NKYOdsO3J
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 10, 2017
The United States men’s national team is in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday getting set for a match that should punch its ticket to the 2018 World Cup. The Americans enter Tuesday’s game knowing a win would be enough to qualify, and a draw, in all likelihood, would be sufficient too.
But when the Yanks arrived at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Monday morning for training, they encountered some less than ideal conditions. The running track that surrounds the field was heavily flooded:
The #USMNT encounters a river around the field as it turns up for its official training session at Ato Boldon Stadium this morning. pic.twitter.com/yywxhyeELf
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) October 9, 2017
The pitch itself was waterlogged. Manager Bruce Arena called it “a little heavy and mushy.” But training had to go on. Some players walked through the water barefoot. Others were given piggyback rides by members of the team’s staff.
#R̶o̶a̶d̶T̶o̶R̶u̶s̶s̶i̶a̶ #RiverToRussia pic.twitter.com/O5r1Dra8QM
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) October 9, 2017
The team began preparing for Tuesday’s match as planned, but eventually moved to an area behind one of the goals. Arena later said that the state of the pitch precluded any real training.
#usmnt now resorting to practicing behind the goal, probably so the field doesn’t get torn up. pic.twitter.com/5sLSfOK1f0
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
Arena was confident the field would be playable on Tuesday. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said it was draining well, and that he did not plan to raise the issue with CONCACAF or FIFA officials. A lone pump was working to remove the standing water:
This piece of equipment will be working overtime. Yes that’s one of the corner flags to the left. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/YCbyCxqk6m
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
The Trinidadian federation released a statement addressing the flooding, but didn’t say anything in particular of note. It did, though, reportedly include a picture from the infamous U.S.-Costa Rica match in 2013 that was played in the snow.
According to a local report, the FIFA match commissioner and the stadium’s facility manager urged Arena and the U.S. to train at a different stadium 30 minutes away. But the team still opted for Ato Boldon, as is customary for training the day before a match.
The match was originally scheduled to be played Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, the Trinidadian capital, but was relocated to the 10,000-capacity venue in Couva, in part because it costs the federation less to stage a game there.
Rain seemingly undermined that backup plan. But forecasts say the skies should be clear for Tuesday’s game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports, go90 app). And the pump appears to have work. The game will go ahead as planned, with no issues.
Here are some more pictures from training this morning:
The flooded track around Ato Boldon Stadium, venue for #usmnt WC qualifier tomorrow pic.twitter.com/R1NV65bhhP
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 9, 2017
Greetings from Ato Bolden Stadium in Trinidad, where the #USMNT will face T&T on Tuesday. Cozy confines complete w/ a moat: pic.twitter.com/78gz1jBvVp
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2017
Bruce Arena and #usmnt see field for first time. "Where's the drawbridge?" a player says pic.twitter.com/TECb6q4GOp
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 9, 2017
First 2 #USMNT players on the field are Graham Zusi (walked across the moat barefoot) and Christian Pulisic (carried over by a staffer) pic.twitter.com/amDHkMrzkQ
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2017
#usmnt players now resorting to piggyback rides in order to be able to practice. pic.twitter.com/tOu5xoGieX
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
They made it to the field. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/sc9EPNFpTX
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
The #USMNT warms up ahead of training at the Ato Bolden Swimming Pool in Trinidad: pic.twitter.com/I0FpUhlsBQ
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2017
That is a pump. #usmnt in Couva, T&T pic.twitter.com/SOVIUc5Bdt
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 9, 2017
Here’s the view of the other end of the Ato Boldon Stadium. Lot of work to do to make this field playable. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/xHdIwVV3yQ
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
Breaking: Bruce Arena calls up Michael Phelps for Tuesday's #USMNT qualifier. "He will be taking our corners & playing on the wing" pic.twitter.com/pRRy4aFaqa
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2017
That’s #USMNT team photographer “Shoeless” John Todd. pic.twitter.com/MM8bBez2QD
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 9, 2017
#USMNT coach Bruce Arena isn't happy w/conditions in Couva, Trinidad, where Tuesday's WCQ is to be played. And more rain is in the forecast pic.twitter.com/LoxVC02t57
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) October 9, 2017
– – – – – – –
Henry Bushnell covers soccer – the U.S. national teams, the Premier League, and much, much more – for FC Yahoo and Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.