The U.S. men’s national team takes its first steps in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League when it faces Caribbean foe Cuba at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Friday night.
Pre-game coverage of USA-Cuba begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás and TUDN, with kickoff to follow at 7 p.m.
Usually at this point of the cycle, the USMNT still would be playing friendlies in preparation for the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying. With the advent of the Concacaf Nations League, the team is getting competitive matches in a home-and-away format that can replicate what the team will experience come the final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, which begins next September.
“This is competitive soccer,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “For us, it’s playing away games and playing home games that leads to a result in a tournament format which is important. World Cup qualifying is an absolutely crucial event, and these games will help prepare us. Anytime there is a trophy on the line is exciting, and in the inaugural Nations League tournament we want to put ourselves in a position to win the tournament.”
Drawn into Nations League A, Group A, the USMNT will close out the year with home and away matches against Canada and Cuba. Those countries faced off during the September window, with Canada earning a 7-0 win on Sept. 7 in Toronto before a 1-0 victory in Cuba’s “home” match on Sept. 10 in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. With those results, the USMNT will have the goal of equaling Canada’s six points by the end of the October window.
The USA and Cuba meet for the 13th time, with the USMNT holding a dominant 10-1-1 all-time series lead.
The only two blemishes on the USA record came during the first two matches of the series – a 5-2 defeat to Cuba in the North American Football Championship on July 20, 1947 in Havana and 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw on Sept. 14, 1949 in Mexico City.
The roster has an average age of 25 years, 168 days and 24 caps.
The roster (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 61/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), Zack Steffen (Fortuna Düsseldorf/GER; 16/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 8/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 13/2), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 10/0), Matt Miazga (Reading/ENG; 17/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 36/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 2/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 59/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8) :Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 150/17), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 11/2), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 15/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 32/13), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 16/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 20/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0)
FORWARDS (6) :Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 28/5), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Tyler Boyd (Beşiktaş/TUR; 7/2), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 35/6), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER; 9/2), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 53/10)
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