U.S. Beach Men’s National Team Player Tests Positive for COVID-19 At Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship in Costa Rica
Player Ruled out of Tournament After Multiple Positive Tests; All Other Players and Staff Have Continued Testing Negative
CHICAGO (May 18, 2021) – U.S. Soccer has confirmed that U.S. Beach Men’s National Team forward Fredo Dilbert has tested positive for COVID-19 while at the 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship in Costa Rica. Dilbert has been ruled out of the rest of the qualifying tournament.
U.S. Soccer learned of the Dilbert’s positive test Monday evening and the player was immediately isolated, per U.S. Soccer and Concacaf’s protocols. The player also tested positive on a subsequent test and will remain in isolation and observing the appropriate quarantine protocols.
After contract tracing was completed and further tests were conducted on select players, including some that are vaccinated, all close contacts have tested negative and remain eligible.
All other members of the U.S. Beach Men’s National Team delegation - players and staff - tested negative on arrival and multiple tests during the team’s pre-camp in Ft. Lauderdale prior to arriving in Costa Rica, and in multiple tests since arriving in the host country.
The USA opened the World Cup Qualifying tournament with a convincing 11-1 win over Turks and Caicos Islands on Monday afternoon. The team will play Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday and close out group play against the hosts, Costa Rica, on Wednesday. All matches are played without fans at Costa Rica’s Complejo Deportivo FEDEFUTBOL Plycem in Alajuela.
After round-robin play, the top two teams from each group and the two best third-place teams will advance to the quarterfinals. The two semifinal winners will earn Concacaf’s two berths at the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup scheduled for August 19-29 in Moscow, Russia.