Bethlehem Soccer Stadium
Map
Location23-1 Estate Bethlehem
Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Coordinates17°43′31″N 64°47′52″W / 17.725396°N 64.7978536°W / 17.725396; -64.7978536
Capacity1,200
SurfaceArtificial turf
Construction
Broke ground2017
OpenedAugust 11, 2019
Tenants
US Virgin Islands national football team

The Bethlehem Soccer Stadium is an association football stadium in Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.[1] The stadium is home to the US Virgin Islands national football team while the larger complex also includes the offices and technical center of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation.[2]

The stadium can accommodate 1,200 total seated spectators on two grandstands.[3] It is the territory’s first soccer-specific stadium and was funded fully by FIFA.[4]

History

The transition of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation offices to Bethlehem Estate began with FIFA Goal Project funding in 2015.[2] Construction of the technical center was scheduled to begin the following year and on the national stadium in 2017. The stadium was to be constructed to address a lack of footballing infrastructure and a proper national stadium.[5]

The stadium was officially opened on August 11, 2019 with a ceremony that included guests such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.[6][7] However, the stadium was already in use as the USVI olympic team hosted its qualifying matches for the 2020 Summer Olympics the previous month.[8]

The stadium hosted the senior men's national team for the first time on September 5, 2019 for a 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C match against the Cayman Islands.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Bethlehem Soccer Stadium". gotostcroix.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b "USVI SSoccer Association Announces New Office Location". VI Consortium. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. ^ Wilby, Ryan. "Grandstand Seating for the United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association". Sport Systems Canada. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Soccer stadium set to open in April on St. Croix; facility will host lcoal and international FIFA tournaments". viconsortium.com. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ Williams, Sean A. "Minnows US Virgin Islands yearn for football respect". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Sunday August 11 FIFA and Concacaf Presidents will be visiting the US Virgin Islands". United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. ^ "USVI Soccer Association Invites Community to Masters Tournament on Aug. 11". St. Croix Source. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  8. ^ Murphy, Kyle. "USVI Soccer Association Announces Slate of Games in July". St. Croix Source. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Schedule Confirmed for the Inaugural Round of CONCACAF Nations League Group Stage Matches". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  10. ^ "New Home a Big Boost for US Virgin Islands in Nations League". concacafnationsleague.com. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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