U.S. World Cup team arrives in Brazil
United States' national team soccer player Clint Dempsey arrives at the Sao Paulo International airport in Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2014. The U.S. national soccer team arrived to continue their preparations for the upcoming Brazil 2014 World Cup, which starts on June 12. Credit: AP
The U.S. World Cup team has arrived in Brazil.
The Americans landed in Sao Paulo on Monday morning on an overnight commercial flight from Miami and reached their downtown hotel on a bus with the American flag and the slogan "United by team, driven by passion." Motorcycled police with the Stars and Stripes sticking out of their wheels preceded the bus, and a helicopter hovered.
Four soldiers in fatigues, about two dozen police in riot gear and what appeared to be several plain clothes security stood outside the hotel, which is adjacent to a park on a tree-lined street. The team was met with applause when it entered the lobby.
The Americans will train at nearby Sao Paulo FC until Friday. They then fly 1,450 miles north to Natal for their Group G opener Monday against Ghana, the team that eliminated them from the last two World Cups.
An initial training session in Brazil was scheduled for late afternoon. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann remained in Miami to scout Monday night's warmup game between Ghana and South Korea.
Appearing in their seventh straight World Cup, the Americans also play Portugal and Germany in the group stage.
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