Going Fourth: U.S. Men's Soccer Starts Defense Of Gold Cup Title Vs. Grenada

July 3, 2009 7:55 p.m. EST

Seattle, WA (AHN) - The U.S. Soccer team faces Grenada on the Fourth of July in Seattle Washington. The U.S. is chasing it's third straight CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Americans will play one game in Seattle before heading to Washington, D.C. to face Honduras July 8.

Group play concludes for the U.S. July 11 in Foxborough against Haiti.

The U. S. is playing with a much different roster than the team that finished second if the FIFA Confederations Cup to Brazil.

CONCACAF decided that any nation competing in a Gold Cup played quickly after a Confederations Cup would be permitted to select game-day rosters of 18 from 30 players, not the standard 23.

There is a week off after group play.

The downside to this Gold Cup is the winner doesn't earn an automatic berth in the next Confederations Cup. The U.S made it to the most recent Confederations Cup after winning the 2007 Gold Cup.

The entry into the next Confederations Cup will be based on a subsequent Gold Cup.