Orlando confirmed as host for U.S.-Panama World Cup qualifier

The United States' final home World Cup qualifier against Panama will be played in Orlando on Oct. 6, U.S. Soccer confirmed on Monday.

The game will be the national team's debut at the new Orlando City Stadium, and a return to the Florida city for the first time since a friendly in 1998.

The U.S. has only played two World Cup qualifiers in Florida after 1980, one in Tampa in 2012 and one last September in Jacksonville -- neither of which were in the final Hexagonal stage.

The Americans are in fourth place in the Hex after four of 10 matches. The top three teams qualify directly to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while the fourth enters a final intercontinental playoff.

U.S. Soccer said it would use a lottery system to sell tickets at the 25,500-capacity MLS stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game.

The site for the game was reported last week by Sports Illustrated, which also said Harrison, N.J., will host the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in September at Red Bull Arena.

U.S. Soccer also said Monday that the Americans' qualifier at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on June 11 will kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ET).

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