While the U.S. Men’s National Team is weeks away from their first trip to Cincinnati and Nippert Stadium, their head coach knows a thing or two about the city’s passion and the stadium’s atmosphere.
After all, Gregg Berhalter was the Columbus Crew SC coach when FC Cincinnati upset their in-state rivals in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It was the inaugural “HELL IS REAL Derby,” which returns this August when the clubs meet for the first time in MLS.
“I’m still mad we lost,” Berhalter told Cincinnati reporters Thursday in a conference call. “When you think about how rivalries are started and what derby games are like, I think that was a perfect example.
“When you look around the stadium and you see the colors of FC Cincinnati and you see the Columbus Crew SC in their yellows sticking out in the stands and having a large number of fans there, it was one of the better atmospheres I’ve experienced while working in Major League Soccer.
“I’ve been there watching other games as well and there’s just an amazing atmosphere in Cincinnati.”
That expectation will be replicated on June 9 when Berhalter will lead the U.S. against Venezuela at Nippert Stadium. The Venezuela game is the last tune-up game for the U.S. befoe the start of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, which marks the first time the team will play in a major competition since the failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. is the defending champion of the Gold Cup.
“I think it’s going to be a great game,” the coach said. “Hopefully we’re going to be able to get all our guys on the field in that game.”
Tickets for the match start at $25 and are available at online.
