The US Soccer Federation and Soccer United Marketing are reportedly looking into the possibility of hosting matches in 2018 involving nations that have missed out on the FIFA World Cup in Russia, including the US, Italy, Netherlands, Ghana and Chile.
Several outlets reported the news during the USMNT’s 1-1 friendly draw at Portugal on Tuesday.
According to ESPNFC, talks are in the “exploratory stage” and it’s unclear whether an actual tournament would be held or if it’d just be a series of friendlies.
The list of teams that did not qualify to the 2018 World Cup in Russia include many high-profile nations: defending Copa America winners Chile, four-time World Cup champions Italy, three-time World Cup finalists Netherlands, African powers Ghana and reigning CONCACAF champions USA, which had qualified for seven straight editions of the World Cup before stumbling on the final matchday of 2018 CONCACAF qualifying in October.
