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It was only a few years ago when both Cristian and Alex Roldan were lightly regarded high school soccer players in Southern California. Last week, they became the first pair of brothers to start an MLS All-Star Game together. Tonight, they could potentially become join another rare list as brothers to face one another in a World Cup qualifier when the United States visits El Salvador.
Both players also represented their respective countries at the Gold Cup this summer, but a matchup didn’t quite materialize after Alex Roldan’s El Salvador lost to Qatar in the quarterfinals. Cristian Roldan’s USMNT beat Qatar in the semifinals on their way to winning the tournament.
Beyond the intrigue of the Broldan Bowl, this is a particularly notable match for both countries. For El Salvador, this marks the deepest they’ve advanced in World Cup qualifying since 2010, when they finished a distant fifth in the final round. For the United States, this marks the beginning of their quest to erase the memories of the 2018 qualifying process that resulted in them missing the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
This will mark the first time since March 28, 2009 that the United States has visited Estadio Cuscatlán, a game they drew 2-2. The USMNT erased a 2-0 deficit in that game with goals in the 77th and 88th minutes.
How to Watch
Match date/time: Thursday, September 2, 7 PM PT
Venue: Estadio Cuscatlan; San Salvador, El Salvador
Available TV: CBS Sports Network (English). Universo (Spanish)
Available Streaming: Paramount+ (App/Website), fuboTV (Free trial)