D.C.: San Salvador's Northern District
As we told you earlier today, FIFA and CONCACAF have been searching for a new site for the El Salvador-Anguilla World Cup qualifier on March 26 because Anguilla does not have a stadium that meets international requirements. We also told you that Washington's RFK Stadium was under consideration. Now, word out of Zurich is that FIFA has approved RFK as the site. Truly bizarre. It is supposed to be an Anguilla home match in the two-leg series, but with 13,677 residents in the island nation, there's a pretty good chance there will be more Salvadoran fans at RFK than the entire population of Anguilla. A source close to the situation tells me that Los Angeles and Houston were also considered, and final details for RFK to host are being worked out this week.
By Steve Goff |
January 22, 2008; 2:11 PM ET
World
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Posted by: David | January 22, 2008 2:22 PM
I wonder if anyone asked Fenty about this game?
Posted by: Chico | January 22, 2008 2:23 PM
David, I hope you're spot on. That would be a great result, assuming Anguilla doesn't mind playing in an away environment for both legs.
Pretty cool for the local ES fans, too.
Posted by: Joe Doc | January 22, 2008 2:26 PM
Actually, for one day Washington will officially be a northern district of The Valley (pop. 1,169), the capital of Anguilla.
Posted by: 22201 | January 22, 2008 2:31 PM
Where can I get an Anguilla kit to wear for the game?
Posted by: Paul | January 22, 2008 2:34 PM
Finally, a reason to break out the ES jersey. Supporters groups for DCU could make a great outreach to the Salvadoran community by showing up and rooting for ES.
Posted by: RDA Jr. | January 22, 2008 2:36 PM
Actually, for one day Washington will officially be a northern district of The Valley (pop. 1,169), the capital of Anguilla.
Posted by: 22201
Maybe Anguilla will give DC residents voting rights :)
Actually strike that. Anguilla is also a colony but of the UK.
Posted by: song219 | January 22, 2008 2:39 PM
RDA Jr., where did you buy your ES jersey? Closest I've seen was a cheap bootleg that was stained and falling apart in the wholesale district in downtown L.A.
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | January 22, 2008 2:43 PM
Not to dredge up any old crap but why would DC supporters turn out to support ES? After all the pain and misery caused us by ES supporters after Diaz Arce left I doubt you can sell that.
Posted by: DirtyHarry | January 22, 2008 2:45 PM
Re: Fenty.
I hope Mr. Mayor realizes that events of this type will migrate to PG county if the non-PP set of developments takes place.
Posted by: seahawkdad | January 22, 2008 2:50 PM
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Where can I get an Anguilla kit to wear for the game?
Posted by: Paul | January 22, 2008 02:34 PM
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I hope (although it is doubtful that) Paul finds many who agree with him and that Anguilla gets strong support in RFK.
Goff, will you be assigned to cover this clash of titans on 3/26?
Posted by: Love for Concacaf | January 22, 2008 2:52 PM
RDA Jr., where did you buy your ES jersey? Closest I've seen was a cheap bootleg that was stained and falling apart in the wholesale district in downtown L.A.
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | January 22, 2008 02:43 PM
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You can get bootleg versions pretty easily in the DC area at various Salvadoran markets an sometimes from street vendors outside of churches on Sundays. Maybe not right now due to the weather, but I've seen 'em.
Posted by: edgeonyou | January 22, 2008 2:53 PM
It's nice to have World Cup qualifiers back at RFK.
Let us know if the US picks a game for our fair town.
Posted by: DC #1 Soccer Town | January 22, 2008 2:54 PM
I'm gonna have to get me an Anguilla flag and root for the underdogs...
If they're a British colony I wonder if they'll go the root of dragging out English players with ties to the homeland?
Posted by: Matt | January 22, 2008 3:20 PM
Can one get an Anguilla home replica on WorldSoccerShop.com? If not, then I demand they change their name to LotsOfCountriesButNotNecessarilyTheWholeWorldSoccerShop.com
Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | January 22, 2008 3:42 PM
Vamos Anguilla United!
Posted by: wmsiii | January 22, 2008 3:46 PM
More "home" WCQs to be played on the road, as Iraq will be hosting games in the UAE:
Iraq to host 3 World Cup qualifying matches in Dubai
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AjYMvxAxxnWnB9SOpsZkupsmw7YF?slug=ap-wcupqualifying-iraq&prov=ap&type=lgns
Posted by: World Cup | January 22, 2008 3:48 PM
> Where can I get an Anguilla kit to wear for the game?
> Vamos Anguilla United!
DCU fans obviously long for a chance to root for an underdog. Must be bored with winning all the time!
:)
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2008 4:01 PM
Why would Anguilla agree to what amounts to playing on the road in an important match, rather than trying to rent a nearby stadium closer to home? I suppose they would get a big payday for this?
Posted by: Bont | January 23, 2008 8:00 AM
Hey DCU Fans...Support of this game(for either side) will strengthen a bid for more quialifiers at RFK.....When will the tickets be available?
Posted by: Johnny | January 23, 2008 2:08 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I think it makes perfect sense. Here's why. The gate (profits) from any international match is split between the two sides, with the home side making more revenue than the away side.
For tiny Aguilla, this one match, if well attended, could raise more revenue for their domestic federation than any match in the history of the island.