Orlando to host U.S. men’s World Cup qualifier

Orlando City Stadium will host a critical U.S. men’s national team World Cup qualifier in October, according to Sports Illustrated.

The match against Panama in October likely will help determine whether the U.S. qualifies for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

An Orlando City spokesman confirmed Orlando City Stadium is in contention to host the match, but he added nothing has been finalized and discussions are ongoing.

U.S. Soccer hasn’t confirmed the location for the matchup, either, but Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl routinely breaks qualifier location news weeks ahead of soccer officials.

Ticket isn’t expected information to be available until much closer to the October game.

The U.S. would appreciate inheriting Orlando City’s home-field advantage, with the Lions 5-0-0 at home so far this season.

The Americans fell behind in early World Cup qualifying, helping trigger the firing of coach Jürgen Klinsmann and the return of former coach Bruce Arena. The U.S. has since seemed to stabilize under Arena’s direction but has little room for error.

The U.S. has four points after four games and is fourth in the hexagonal of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, trailing Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, and ahead of Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago. The top three nations qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia, and the No. 4 team advances to a playoff.