Salt Lake City could host World Cup qualifying match between U.S. and Costa Rica

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City is one of three finalists to host a World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. Men's National Team and Costa Rica in March, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl.

Denver and Kansas City round out the list of finalists, the veteran soccer writer reported on Twitter yesterday, adding that a decision will be made sometime this week.

"We are always happy to be considered by U.S. Soccer," Real Salt Lake's vice president of communications Trey Fitz-Gerald said. "Our track record hosting both the men's and women's teams is excellent, and that is a tribute to the rapidly growing and developing soccer culture we have here in Utah."

In March 2005, more than 40,000 people watched the U.S. team beat Costa Rica 3-0 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The smaller Rio Tinto Stadium was at capacity for a friendly against El Salvador in 2009.

— Aaron Falk