The United States will open the final qualifying round for the 2002 World Cup with a match against Mexico at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 28, 2001 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be shown live to a national television audience on ESPN2. The February 28 match will mark the start of a year-long, ten-game qualifying schedule for the United States, after which CONCACAF’s three representatives for the next World Cup will be determined. The six-team group includes Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and either Guatemala or Costa Rica in addition to the U.S. and Mexico, will advance to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. Stadium The United States will return to the home of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew for the second time, having previously battled Costa Rica to a 0-0 draw in the semifinal round before an overflow crowd of 24,430 on October 11, 2000. Columbus Crew Stadium, the first major-league stadium built specifically for soccer in the United States, has a capacity of 22,555 and opened on May 15, 1999. “The selection of Columbus Crew Stadium as the venue for the Mexico match makes perfect sense,” head coach Bruce Arena noted. “The facilities are first-rate, and we can be sure of having a vocal crowd supporting our effort.” Tickets Those U.S. Soccer has designated “U.S. Soccer Supporters” and Columbus Crew season ticket holders who have renewed their tickets for the 2001 season will have first priority to purchase seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. Ticket prices for the match will be $45, $35 and $28 and will go on sale to the general public on Jan. 19, 2001. should they still be available.