USA play 'coldest game ever' as players treated for hypothermia after qualifier

The USA played Honduras in a game that saw sub zero temperature in Minnesota.

The World Cup qualifier was played in freezing temperatures that plummeted to -17 degrees.

It was the coldest game featuring the US in more than 20 years, although they still ran out 3-0 winners at Allianz Field.

Both sets of players as well as the referee were allowed to wear warm weather equipment which included snoods and face coverings.

New Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner, who was signed in January and will arrive in the summer, kept a clean sheet but will have endured a forgettable night in the cold.

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic was among the goal scorers with Weston McKennie and Walker Zimmerman also getting in on the act.

Despite the best efforts to keep players warm two members of the Honduras team had to be substituted after suffering from hypothermia.

Goalkeeper Luis 'Bobo' Lopez was replaced at half-time and was still requiring treatment at the end of the game, according to reports.

Romell Quito was also withdrawn, although his affects were not as severe.

The two coaches appeared to be at loggerheads when it came to the game going ahead with Honduras boss Hernan Dario Gomez less than impressed.

He said: "Football is not possible in those conditions".

Berhalter though felt the USA did all they could in regards to providing sufficient equipment.

"What I would say is that we provided Honduras and their staff and the referees with warm weather gear," he said.

"We provided them with heat gear, and were trying to make it a safe environment for them to play.

"When we go down to those countries, and it's 90 degrees in 90% dew point and it's unbearable humidity and guys are getting dehydrated and cramping up and getting heat exhaustion, that's the nature of our competition.

"When we schedule this game in this location, you have to go by average temperatures, daily average temperatures, and it was the best guess. We want to minimize travel.

"We knew we're gonna be playing in cold weather in two of the games and we figured to do it in the third game as well, instead of switching climates.

"The cold spell came through and it's something we can't control but all we can do once that happens is try to mitigate the risk by having warm weather gear and going out there and competing and we did that."