U.S. - Chile anyone? A few newsy national team tidbits

The United States traditionally plays a January friendly as a punctuation mark on an early training camp, one typically is heavy on MLS players and talent playing in Scandinavian leagues. And, since the Scandinavian teams are on break, the U.S. opposition for that January camp is usually of Viking lineage: Norway, Denmark or Sweden. This year, it looks like the U.S. will look further south (much further) for its opposition.

I’m hearing more about a U.S.-Chile match this time. Most of these games are at the Home Depot Center, where the camp will take place. That’s the most likely place for this year’s match, too, although the January contest has taken place elsewhere on occasion.

Also around the national team, the U.S. roster for a Nov. 17 friendly in Cape Town against South Africa could be released as early as next week.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley will know by the end of the weekend which players will be available. Talent from the four teams still alive in the MLS playoffs at the end of the weekend won’t be available, since they will be participating in the conference finals just a few days before the match in Cape Town. That means no Chris Wondolowski; the San Jose Earthquakes attacker and unlikely MLS Golden Boot winner will be playing against either Columbus or Colorado. It wouldn’t surprise me, on the other hand, to see him in the January camp.

Neither will any of the European based players who are currently starting for their sides be in the plans for South Africa. Bradley has already aid they won’t be considered. That doesn’t mean, however, that guys like Jozy Altidore or Eddie Johnson or anyone else not in their side’s regular rotation won’t be considered.

What else? I’m hearing the U.S.-Argentina match that may or may not be destined for Qwest Field in late winter/ early spring is something short of a done deal. Might happen, but nothing has been decided.

And here’s something: next year is shaping up to be a busy, eventful year. There are international fixture dates in February that could be filled. (The U.S.-Argentina match would most likely be slotted into a March FIFA fixture date.)  The summer’s Gold Cup will be a priority, as U.S. officials have said, and tune-up matches beforehand are possible.

Finally, if current proposals for an updated CONCACAF World Cup qualifying format go through, matches could begin in September. Of 2011! Imagine that: qualifying for the next World Cup could begin in about 10 months.