CHICAGO (July 17, 2021)— With a 6-1 against Martinique having secured their place in the knockout phase, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face northern neighbors Canada on Thursday, July 15 in Kansas City, Kan. The USA and Canada have each won their first two Group B games and have both clinched a spot in the Quarterfinals. Canada has one-goal edge in goals scored heading into the match, meaning the USA will need a victory to finish atop the group.
Coverage from Children’s Mercy Park begins at 5 p.m. ET on FOX, Univision and TUDN, with kickoff to follow at 5:15 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the USMNT during the tournament on Twitter (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
GOALKEEPERS (3): 22-Brad Guzan (Atlanta United; 64/0), 18-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), 1-Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 3/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 21-George Bello (Atlanta United; 2/0), 2-Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 18/1), 20-Shaq Moore (Tenerife/ESP; 7/0), 4-Donovan Pines (D.C. United; 1/0), 12-Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 5/2), 16-James Sands (New York City FC; 2/0), 3-Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 4/1), 5-Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 16/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 23-Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 33/2), 6-Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; 2/0), 17-Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 25/7), 10-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 21/0), 19-Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; 2/0), 14-Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 14/0)
FORWARDS: (6): 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 36/8), 11-Daryl Dike (Orlando City; 5/3), 8-Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA; 5/3), 13-Matthew Hoppe (Schalke/GER; 1/0), 15-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 8/2), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 58/13)
|
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Time (ET)/Result |
TV Info |
|
Sunday, July 11 |
Haiti |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
FS1, Univision, TUDN |
|
|
Thursday, July 15 |
Martinique |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
FS1, UniMás, TUDN |
|
|
Sunday, July 18 |
Canada |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
5 p.m. |
FOX, Univision, TUDN |
Daryl Dike, 21, became the second-youngest USMNT player to score twice in a Gold Cup match, leading the charge with two goals while Miles Robinson, Gyasi Zardes, and Nicholas Gioacchini each added one in Thursday’s win against Martinique.
The match featured five players making their first career starts, and two making their international debuts. After making their USMNT debut off the bench on Sunday night against Haiti, Gianluca Busio, James Sands and Eryk Williamson each earned their first starts. George Bello, who debuted in January, also made his first start, as did newcomer Matthew Hoppe, who played his match for the U.S. at any level. Donovan Pines then became the 47th different player to make his USMNT debut under Gregg Berhalter when he entered in the second half.
HIGHLIGHTS: USMNT ADVANCES WITH 6-1 WIN AGAINST MARTINIQUE
With an average of 23 years, 84 days, the starting XI against Martinique was the youngest the USMNT has fielded in a competitive match going back to 1989.
|
Opponent |
Date |
Competition |
Age Spelled out |
|
Martinique |
July 15, 2021 |
Gold Cup |
23 years, 84 days |
|
Panama |
Oct. 10, 2005 |
WCQ |
23 years, 190 days |
|
Honduras |
June 3, 2021 |
Nations League |
23 years, 214 days |
|
Costa Rica |
April 16, 1989 |
WCQ |
23 years, 216 days |
|
Costa Rica |
April 30, 1989 |
WCQ |
23 years, 266 days |
The Canadians have been firing on all cylinders, cruising to consecutive 4-1 wins to place themselves in pole position. They kicked off its group play with a 4-1 opening Gold Cup win over Martinique on Sunday. After Mark-Anthony Kaye’s back pass attempt was intercepted by Sebastien Cretinoir that allowed the Caribbean side to grab a 10th-minute lead on Emmanuel Riviere's goal, Les Rouges bounced back with four unanswered goals. Cyle Larin, Jonathan Osorio, Stephen Eustáquio and Theo Theo Corbeanu did the damage.
In their Thursday night win, Larin recorded a brace after Eustáquio put his name on the scoresheet, with Junior Hoilett closed out the scoring.
Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 15 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just behind all-time leaders Mexico with eight (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019). Canada is the only other tournament champion, coming away with the title in 2000.
The top two teams in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals (July 24-25 in Arlington, Texas and Glendale, Ariz.). The semifinals are scheduled for July 29 in Austin and Houston, before the championship match on Aug. 1 in Las Vegas.
Sebastian Lletget captained the USMNT for the first time vs. Haiti, while Walker Zimmerman earned the same honor against Martinique. Gregg Berhalter has now handed 13 different players the armband.
Collecting the game-winning assist against Haiti, Gyasi Zardes also made his first USMNT appearance since the 1-0 win vs. Costa Rica on Feb. 1, 2020.
With the goal against Martinique, Zardes moves into a tie with Bobby Wood, Hugo Perez and Marcelo Balboa for 15th on the USMNT's all-time scoring list (13 goals).
His fifth career Gold Cup goal ties him for fifth all-time with Jozy Altidore, Chris Wondolowski and DaMarcus Beasley among U.S. players in the competition.
Turner (eligible to represent Lithuania), Moore (eligible to represent Trinidad and Tobago), Gioacchini (Italy and Jamaica), Busio (Italy) and Dike (Nigeria) became officially cap-tied to the USMNT with their appearances vs. Haiti.
After making his USMNT debut during the 7-0 win vs. Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, left back George Bello earned his first start against Martinique. A dual-national eligible for the USA and Nigeria, the 19-year-old is now officially cap-tied to the USMNT.
At 19 years, 48 days, Busio became the second youngest USMNT player to start a Gold Cup match on Thursday against Martinique. He comes in behind only Juan Agudelo, who started his first match in the tournament at 18 years, 196 days on June 7, 2011 vs. Canada in Detroit.
Hoppe, Williamson, Roldan and Busio each earned their first career assists in the win against Martinique.
Nineteen of the 23 players represent a total of 13 different clubs in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United and Colorado Rapids lead the way with three players each, followed by D.C. United, New York City FC (2 each); Columbus Crew, LA Galaxy, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City (1 each).
Defenders Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portugal) and Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain) and forwards Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; France) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; Germany) make up the European-based contingent.
Gyasi Zardes’ team-leading 18 Gold Cup caps currently place him at 10th on the USMNT's all-time Gold Cup appearances list.
Since 2018, Zardes leads all U.S.-eligible players in MLS with 47 goals. The veteran striker also sits eighth all-time on the USMNT's Gold Cup scoring list with four goals.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan made his international debut during the 2017 Gold Cup, starting the team's 3-2 win against Martinique on July 12, 2017, in Tampa. The USA’s match against Martinique in this tournament comes three days after the four-year anniversary of that match.
Beginning with the inaugural title in 1991, the U.S. has lifted the Gold Cup on six occasions. The USA returned the trophy home in 2002 and won again in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
The USA has more wins in the Gold Cup than any other nation, going 62-9-9 all-time.
The U.S. has gone an impressive 36-1-4 during the group stage.
The USMNT has advanced to the final on 11 occasions: 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
The USA has made it to the semifinals in 14 out of 15 tournaments, missing out only in 2000.
The USMNT enjoys a 15-9-11 advantage in the series, which goes back almost a century when the Americans fell 1-0 in Montreal on June 27, 1925.
The USA is undefeated in four Gold Cup meetings between the sides.
Since 1991, the USA has posted a 10-1-6 record against Les Rouges. The lone blemish came in a 2-0 defeat in the Concacaf Nations League at BMO Field in Toronto on Oct. 15, 2019. Alfonso Davies and substitute Lucas Cavallini scored for the hosts, who ended a 34-year winless run against the USA dating back to 2-0 Canada win in Vancouver on April 2, 1985.
In the return match at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 15, the USMNT recorded a 4-1 triumph to win Group A. Gyasi Zardes scored twice and Jordan Morris and Aaron Long added goals. Defender Sergiño Dest, then 19, set up a goal in his competitive debut for the USA.
The two sides will clash again in the second match of the Concacaf final round of World Cup Qualifying on Sept. 5. in Nashville, Tenn. Canada will host the Americans on Jan. 30, 2022.
DEFENDERS (7): 15-Doneil Henry (Suwon Samsung Bluewings/KOR), 2-Alistair Johnston (Nashville SC/USA), 22-Richie Laryea/Toronto FC, 18-Jayson Leutwiler (Oldham Athletic/ENG), 4-Kamal Miller (CF Montréal), 13-Frank Sturing (Unattached), 5-Steven Vitória (Moreirense FC/ POR)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 7-Stephen Eustáquio (FC Paços de Ferreira/POR), 8- Liam Fraser (Columbus Crew SC/ USA), 14-Mark-Anthony Kaye (Los Angeles FC/ USA), 21-Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), 23-Harry Paton (Ross County FC/SCO), 6-Samuel Piette (CF Montréal)
FORWARDS (7): 20-Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC), 12-Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution/USA), 9-Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), 11-Theo Corbeanu (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/ ENG), 10- David Junior Hoilett (Unattached), 17-Cyle Larin (Beşiktaş JK/TUR), 3-Tyler Pasher (Houston Dynamo/USA)
The Canadians are riding an eight-game winning streak which started March 25 during World Cup Qualifying. During that time, they have outscored their opposition, 39-3, and at one point recording five consecutive clean sheets. They qualified for the WCQ final round by blanking Haiti twice. Cyle Larin scored in each win, a 1-0 victory on June 12 and a 4-0 triumph on June 15. Canada added a Junior Hoilett tally and an own goal.
This is considered a golden generation for Canada, which has reached the Concacaf WCQ final round for the first time since 1998.
Former Orlando City SC standout forward Cyle Larin, 26, who struck for 19 goals in 38 matches for Beşiktaş (Turkey) in 2020-21, has been vital to the attack. The four-time Gold Cup performer has found the net a team-high 10 goals in eight appearances in 2021 and has scored in four successive games. He has connected for a tournament-high three goals (through Thursday night). He tallied twice in the win over Haiti, giving him 18 goals in 39 international matches.
Midfielder Tajoun Buchanan, 22, who has emerged as an important piece of the puzzle for the New England Revolution and the national team. Utilizing his speed, Buchanan set up goals in both of Canada's opening Gold Cup wins.
Fourteen players perform for Major League Soccer clubs, eight with the three Canadian-based clubs.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, defender Cristián Gutiérrez and forward Lucas Cavallini, who has scored five goals in seven international appearances in 2021, play for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Defender Kamal Miller and midfielder Samuel Piette compete for CF Montreal. Defender Richie Laryea, midfielder Jonathan Osorio and forward Ayo Akinola perform for Toronto FC.
For Sunday's confrontation, the Canadians will be without midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, who scored in each of their opening two matches. Eustáquio, who plays for F.C. Paços de Ferreira (Portugal), incurred his second yellow card of the tournament against Martinique and must sit out the USA encounter.