World Cup: NYCFC’s Costa Rican Duo Await Fate

At least two members of NYCFC’s first-team will have eyes all over Friday’s FIFA World Cup draw in Moscow.

Ronald Matarrita and Rodney Wallace both played instrumental roles in guiding Costa Rica to their second successive World Cup and will discover their fate when the draw is made tomorrow morning.

Costa Rica have been placed in Pot Three of the draw thanks to their excellent qualification record and their run to the quarter finals in Brazil four years ago.

Los Ticos will be out to at least match their achievements in 2014 this time out after finishing second in the CONCACAF Hexagonal standings, earning their spot in Russia.

Other NYCFC players with vested interests in the draw will be Alexander Callens, who will be targeting a Peru recall in the next six months, as well as David Villa who was named in the Spain squad in September for the first time since the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

You can also watch the draw with NYCFC at St Pat’s Bar on West 46th Street or at Scallywags on 9^th Avenue (btwn 38^th and 39^th) from 10am and be in with a chance of winning exclusive NYCFC jerseys, tickets and merch.

Members can also take advantage of food and drink specials at both venues.

When?

The draw is scheduled to start at 10am ET on Friday December 1 at the State Kremlin Palace inside the Moscow Kremlin.

A FIFA spokesperson told the Press Association : "This prestigious entertainment venue with a capacity of 6,000 spectators has hosted many international and locally renowned artists in the past, as well as traditional ballets and operas."

How it Works

England legend turned TV presenter Gary Lineker will conduct the draw alongside co-host Maria Komandnaya.

France’s Laurent Blanc, England’s Gordon Banks, Brazil’s Cafu, Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro, Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, Argentina’s Diego Maradona, Spain’s Carles Puyol and Russia’s Nikita Simonyan will assist.

According to FIFA: “The four pots will be emptied by drawing the eight teams they each contain one by one and placing them in the eight groups of four teams (Groups A to H).

“Hosts Russia will occupy the top position in Group A, while the seven other seeds will occupy the top spots in Groups B to H.

“The positions of all the other teams (from pots 2, 3 and 4) will be decided when they are drawn.
“As is customary at Final Draws, a ball will be drawn from the team pots and then another from the group pots to determine the position in which the team in question will play.

“With the exception of UEFA, which has more qualifiers (14) than there are groups (8), no teams from the same confederation can be drawn in the same group.”

Where to Watch

According to the New York Times, the draw will be streamed at fifa.com/world cup. Television coverage in the United States will be on Fox Sports 1 in English and on Telemundo in Spanish. (Both will come on the air early, at 9:30 a.m.) 

Watch With NYCFC

Or, of course, you could do this…