HOUSTON, Texas – Four weeks and counting to one of Houston’s biggest 2019 soccer events.

The United States Men’s National Team will host Chile in an international friendly match March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kickoff is 7pm CDT.

This will be the U.S. Men’s National Team’s second appearance at BBVA Compass Stadium since it opened in 2012. The U.S. team’s first appearance was in 2013 against Canada.

The team’s last appearance in the Bayou City was a 2016 match with Argentina in the Copa America Centenario at NRG Stadium that drew a city soccer attendance record 70,728 fans. In fact, Houston, which has morphed into a soccer city in the past two decades, holds four of the top 15 attendance marks for Men’s National Team matches since 2000.

“It’s exciting to have another big soccer event in our great soccer city,” said Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee president, Chris Canetti. “This is not only a must-see event for soccer fans, but a chance to show the world how Houstonians love and support soccer as we pursue the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

The U.S. is undergoing an exciting rebuild under the new manager, Gregg Berhalter. Berhalter stepped into the job in December after managing the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer for five years. The Crew made the MLS playoffs four of his five seasons as manager, reaching the MLS Cup Final in 2015.

Berhalter was a defender on the U.S. MNT from 1994-2006, earning 44 caps and playing in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

The U.S. is off to a fast 2-0 start under Berhalter, beating Panama 3-0 and Costa Rica 2-0 in January. The squad that will be chosen for the Houston-Chile match is expected to include some of the team’s best since the entire MNT player pool will be available for selection.

This Houston match, along with a match against Ecuador in Orlando on March 21, will be final tune-ups for this summer’s prestigious Gold Cup.

“We’re thrilled to have an opponent of Chile’s caliber as we continue to build our team towards the Gold Cup,” Berhalter said. “Houston fans have shown fantastic support for the National Team, so we think BBVA Compass Stadium is an ideal venue to compete in.”

Chile is ranked No. 13 in the FIFA World Ranking. The team won the 2016 Copa America Centenario and finished second in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Tickets are on sale through ussoccer.com and at the BBVA Compass Stadium ticket office (open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Groups of 20 or more can order directly at ussoccer.com.