BUSY, BUSY, BUSY: USMNT could play as many as 21 games this year
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
The U.S. men’s national team is slated to play at least 18 games and could play as many as 21 in what will turn into a busy 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the World Cup qualifying Octagonal has been pushed back a year as eight matches will be played from September.
Assuming nothing is changed, the Americans will play eight WCQ contests, a minimum of three and a maximum of six Concacaf Gold Cup matches, five friendlies and two Concacaf Nations League encounters.
The USA already has played one international friendly – a 7-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago Jan. 31.
Below is the schedule of games, which includes all 14 WCQ matches in the Octagonal, which was revealed by USMNT general manager Brian McBride at the U.S. Soccer board of directors meeting on Zoom Friday.
Of course, the schedule is subject to change, depending on what transpires as the U.S. and the world tries to recover from and leave the Coronavirus in the rearview mirror.
Friendlies
Thursday, March 25 (away)
Sunday, March 28 – at Northern Ireland
Sunday, May 30 (away)
CONCACAF Nations League
Semifinals
Thursday, June 3 – vs. Honduras (home)
Final or third-place match
Sunday, June 6 (home)
Friendly
June 9 (home)
Concacaf Gold Cup
July 10-Aug. 1 (home)
World Cup qualifying – Octagonal
Match Day 1
Thursday, Sept. 2 – El Salvador or Trinidad (away)
Match Day 2
Sunday, Sept. 5 – Canada or Haiti (home)
Match Day 3
Wednesday, Sept. 8 – Honduras (away)
Match Day 4
Thursday, Oct. 7 – Jamaica (home)
Match Day 5
Sunday, Oct. 10 – Curacao or Panama (away)
Match Day 6
Wednesday, Oct. 13 – Costa Rica (home)
Match Day 7
Friday, Nov. 12 – Mexico (home)
Match Day 8
Tuesday, Nov. 16 – Jamaica (away)
Training camp
(November-December)
Match Day 9
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 – El Salvador or Trinidad & Tobago (home)
Match Day 10
Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 – Canada or Haiti (away)
Match Day 11
Wednesday, Feb. 2 – Honduras (home)
Match Day 12
Thursday, March 24 – Mexico (away)
Match Day 13
Sunday, March 27 – Curacao or Panama (home)
Match Day 14
Wednesday, March 30 – Costa Rica (away)
Intercontinental playoff or friendly
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Friendlies (2022)
Saturday, June 11
Tuesday, June 14
Friday, Sept. 23
Tuesday, Sept. 27
Saturday, June 4
Wednesday, June 8
2022 World Cup
Nov. 21 – Dec. 18