The USMNT beat Honduras 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night in frigid Minnesota, and the game came with controversy given the near-subzero temperature. Two Honduras players had to leave the game because of hypothermia: Goalie Luis Lopez and forward Romell Quioto.
Honduras coach Hernan Dario Gomez was upset even before the game about having to play the USMNT in the chilly conditions, and for good reason. The temperature was barely above zero degrees Fahrenheit, which is ridiculous to have to play a soccer match in.
“It's not normal,” said Gomez before the game. “It's inconceivable that a power in every sense would bring you here to play a game and get a result. The game hasn't started, but I can't wait for it to end. Because it's not for enjoying, it's for suffering.”
Gomez said Lopez was still being treated in the locker room when the game ended, while Quioto's case wasn't as severe.
Choosing to have this February World Cup qualifier outdoors in Minnesota was a rather terrible idea (there was another cold game recently played in Ohio), but the match was apparently never in danger of getting called off. USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter defended the decision to play, saying Honduras was provided with gear to stay warm while also citing having to play in sweltering hot temperatures with high humidity when having to travel south to these other countries.
USMNT players could tell the Honduras players wanted no part of the cold, but it's not like they were all too thrilled about it either. Christian Pulisic, who scored one of the three goals, couldn't wait to get off the pitch after the game was over.
In the end, the USMNT picked up three much-needed points after getting blanked by Canada on Sunday. The Americans are in second place behind Canada in CONCACAF's octagonal round of qualifying.
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