It was confirmed yesterday that the Republic of Ireland will be one of the four countries taking part in the US Cup, in American cities yet to be named, from June 3rd-11th next year.
Mexico, South Africa and the host country make up the entry for the Nike-sponsored competition which, as in other years, will be staged on a round robin basis.
Although the venues will not be nominated for some time, it is expected that Boston, New York and Washington will stage games, with the possibility of Chicago hosting at least one fixture.
It's a familiar consolation prize for the national squad after their failure to qualify for the finals of the European Championships next summer. But if Mick McCarthy opts to replicate his policy of three years ago, few of them will be making the trip.
On the first occasion that the FAI was invited to send a team to the United States, in 1992, Jack Charlton chose to take his strongest team. He later criticised the tournament, however, on the basis that players didn't know whether to treat it seriously or regard it as an end of season holiday.
Four years later, McCarthy skirted that problem by using the competition as a trial ground for young players on the fringe of his team. In time, Kenny Cunningham, Gary Breen, Ian Harte, Keith O'Neill and David Connolly profited from the experience to build international careers.
During the tournament they lost 2-1 to the US, drew 2-2 with Mexico before completing their programme with a 3-0 win over Bolivia. The Mexican fixture, a repeat of the World Cup game in Florida two years earlier, provided a major controversy with the American referee sending off Liam Daish and Niall Quinn before banishing McCarthy from the dug-out.
Now the manager is again likely to avail of the occasion to experiment with some emerging players, among them Stephen McPhail of Leeds United and the Luton Town pair Gary Doherty and Liam George.
As yet, however, it is too early to speculate if he will name Roy Keane to lead the squad. Three years ago Keane put himself on a collision course with the manager by going AWOL after being named to captain the tour party for the first time.
It was also confirmed yesterday that Steve Staunton and Tony Cascarino, two of the players McCarthy inherited from the Charlton era, are to share a testimonial game at Lansdowne Road at the end of May.
"Stephen Staunton was granted permission for a testimonial several years ago and we are honouring that commitment," said Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive. "He now proposes to involve Tony Cascarino and we have no objection to that."
