US to play Ecuador in exhibition on March 26 at Orlando

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CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. soccer team will play Ecuador in an exhibition on March 21 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida, the first time new U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter has his full player pool available.

The game announced Saturday will be followed by the previously announced March 26 friendly against Chile at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Berhalter's first two games involved only players from Major League Soccer. The Americans beat Panama 3-0 last on Sunday at Glendale, Arizona, and were to play Costa Rica on Saturday at San Jose, California.

Berhalter's first competitive matches as coach will be when the Americans defend their CONCACAF Gold Cup title. They open on June 18 at St. Paul, Minnesota, play four days later at Cleveland and complete the group stage June 26 at Kansas City, Kansas.

The Americans have not played a competitive match since an October 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago, which ended their string of seven straight World Cup appearances.

Ecuador also failed to reach last year's World Cup. It is preparing for the Copa America in Brazil, where it opens against Uruguay on June 16, faces Chile five days later and meets invited guest Japan on June 24.