A U.S. soccer legend will play in Boise this weekend. But not on a traditional field.
The U.S. indoor soccer national team returns to Boise for the third straight year this summer, and it’s bringing some star power with it.
U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan will suit up for his country’s indoor team in a friendly against Mexico at 7 p.m. Saturday at Downtown Boise’s CenturyLink Arena. Tickets cost $15 to $40 and are still available.
Arguably the greatest men’s soccer player in U.S. history, Donovan played in three World Cups and is tied with Clint Dempsey for the most goals (57) for the national team. He is also the country’s all-time leader in assists (58) and ranks second in games played for the U.S. (157).
Donovan won a record six MLS Cups and is the league’s all-time leader in assists (136). MLS named its MVP award after Donovan when he retired.
The 37-year-old Donovan signed with the San Diego Sockers in the Major Arena Soccer League this season. Earlier this summer, he also took a front office job with San Diego’s expansion team in the USL Championship, the second tier of American club soccer.
The owners of the Boise Hawks plan to bring a USL Championship team to Boise if they can get a Downtown stadium built.
The U.S. indoor national team previously played Brazil in an international friendly before a sold-out crowd in Boise in 2017. And last summer, the U.S. won a four-team tournament at CenturyLink Arena against Mexico, Colombia and Somalia.
The game transforms soccer from wide-open spaces to a court the size of a hockey rink. Players use the boards and glass of the hockey rink to create a fast-paced, high-scoring game. Each team fields five players and a goalkeeper.
“We’re thrilled to have soccer return for the Treasure Valley soccer community and our city, and we’re excited to welcome Landon Donovan to Boise,” CenturyLink Arena General Manager Eric Trapp said in a news release. “After the successes of last summer’s tournament and our sold-out international friendly two years ago, we couldn’t wait to bring back some of the best players in the world for a night of fast-paced and competitive soccer.”
This story was originally published June 25, 2019 at 8:46 PM.