Mexico To Host North Korea In Santos' New Stadium

Mexico will play North Korea in the Territorio Santos Modelo on March 17.

Feb 6, 2010 1:15:00 AM

More On :  Korea DPR (PRK), Mexico
Cuauthemoc Blanco - Mexico (Mexsport)
Mexico will play their first friendly on home soil in 2010 at the brand-new Territorio Santos Modelo in Torreon against North Korea, the Mexican Football Federation announced on Friday.

Federation officials said they were ecstatic to have the chance to play a friendly at the country's newest major sporting facility.
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"To have the national team come out that day in the new and magnificent stadium, it will be an honor to play this friendly against North Korea," FMF General Secretary Decio de Maria said. "We are thankful for the efforts Club Santos made to accommodate this game."

Mexico will play just one other friendly on home soil before the World Cup, a May 16 match against Chile in Estadio Azteca.

Both games are against fellow World Cup opponents, but de Maria explained the significance of playing against the North Koreans.

"North Korea is a country who has qualified to the World Cup," De Maria said. "They are a team that is an important one in their region and El Tri, as Javier Aguirre has mentioned, needs matches against teams with different styles, and Asian football is one of them."

North Korea were drawn into a monster group, as the Asians are the overlooked team in Group G along with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.


Despite the perceived strength of their opponent, however, de Maria said the people of Coahuila will enjoy the national team's visit.

"We are certain the people of Torreon will appreciate this effort by Club Santos to bring the national team to the Territorio Santos Modelo," de Maria said, "and all of the fans will live through a fiesta around El Tricolor the next March 17."

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