After the United States defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-3 on Aug. 14, media reports in that country claimed a rematch could be on the cards next summer.
Klix reported that, if both teams qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they would play a tune-up match in St. Louis before traveling to South America. It would be the third time Bosnia-Herzegovina has played in the U.S., and the first time in St. Louis, which has a large Bosnian population.
According to the Klix report, players who were on the Bosnian team when it played in the U.S. — in Atlanta in 2011 and Chicago in 2012, both against Mexico — said both matches felt like home games.
National team striker Vedad Ibišević, who scored against the U.S. in Sarajevo, spent time in St. Louis growing up and played for St. Louis University. It was there that he was spotted and signed by Paris Saint-Germain, managed at the time by a Bosnian, Vahid Halilhodžić.
This could be the start of a trend of teams planning World Cup tune-up games in the U.S., which is ideally situated between Europe and South America. Clubs traveling here in preseason rave about the facilities and their ability to conduct training camps virtually undisturbed.
As next summer approaches and more teams seal qualification for Brazil, more announcements of this nature could be on the way.