El Salvador vs. New Zealand

EL SALVADORTO TAKE ON NEW ZEALAND FOR INTERNATIONAL MATCH UP AT BBVA COMPASS STADIUM

Planet Futbol Presents Second International Soccer Event at Houston’s Newest Downtown Stadium on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

HOUSTON (April 27, 2012)— The national teams of El Salvador and New Zealand will face off  at BBVA Compass Stadium  (www.bbvacompassstadium.com) on Wednesday, May 23^rd in the second international soccer match to be held at the stadium.  The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m.

“BBVA Compass Stadium is proud to be the venue for this fantastic game featuring two great international teams,” said BBVA Compass Stadium General Manager Doug Hall.  “We look forward to creating an authentic fan experience and welcoming first-time guests to the facility.”

Tickets will start at $30 and be available online at www.bbvacompassstadium.com or www.axs.com. 

“We are excited to bring another international soccer event to Houston and are looking forward to hosting this event at BBVA Compass Stadium,” said Eduardo Beltramini, Planet Futbol President and General Manager. “The teams are looking forward to the match up as well as being some of the first people, aside from the Houston Dynamo, to play in this beautiful new building.  This game will be a treat for both the players and the fans.”

El Salvadorhas made two FIFA World Cup appearances: first in 1970 and again in 1982, but have never progressed beyond the first group stage of a finals tournament.  They were the 1943 CONCACAF champions, and finished in second place in the 1941 and 1961 championships.  They have competed in the CONCACAF regional tournaments 13 times, finishing as runners-up in 1963 and 1981.  La Selecta also competes in the biennial UNCAF Nations Cup, the Pan American Games, the Olympics, and have achieved two gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

The New Zealand All Whites have played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments (Spain 1982 and South Africa 2010) since their national soccer federation was founded in 1904.  Their dramatic qualification to the 2010 FIFA World Cup over Bahrein earned the All Whites recognition at New Zealand’s annual sports awards, the Halberg Awards, with the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sporting Moment and the overall Supreme Halberg award.  New Zealand has competed in Oceania’s flagship tournament, the OFC Nations Cup, since its inception in 1973.  They have won the tournament in 1973, 1998, 2002 and 2008.  The last three of those victories qualified the All Whites for the FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico (1999), France (2003) and South Africa (2009).