Preview: USMNT Kicks Off 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup vs. Jamaica In Chicago

CHICAGO (June 23, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will kick off the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup on Saturday, June 24 vs. Jamaica. The USA is seeking a record-tying eighth confederation championship and begins the tournament against a strong Caribbean squad in the Reggae Boyz before facing St. Kitts and Nevis as well as Trinidad and Tobago to round out Group A play.

Coverage of USA-Jamaica from Soldier Field in Chicago begins at 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and Univision, with kickoff set for 10 p.m. ET.

The USMNT enters the Gold Cup as reigning champion and brings a roster that features seven players from the USA’s successful run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. A total of players have six or less caps and are looking to make their mark with the National Team, while seven are age-eligible for the 2024 Olympics, an under-23 tournament.

The U.S. and Jamaica have clashed in the knockout stages of the last four Gold Cups, including the championship match of the 2017 tournament, a 2-1 triumph for the USA. The Reggae Boyz have finished top four at the competition in three of the last four editions.

Fans will be able to follow the match via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer App.

USMNT - GOLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS):

GOALKEEPERS (3): 18-Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), 23-Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 1/0), 1-Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 28/0)

DEFENDERS (8): 15-DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 2/0), 3-Aaron Long (LAFC; 32/3), 4-Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 23/1), 20-Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 2/0), 5-Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 3/0), 12-Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), 21-John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 78/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): 6-Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 9/0), 14-Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 6/1), 16-Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), 10-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/3), 8-James Sands (New York City FC; 8/0), 7-Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 3/0)

FORWARDS (6): 11-Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), 9-Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 18/8), 22-Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), 13-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 52/11), 19-Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 3/1), 17-Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

USA SCHEDULE – 2023 CONCACAF GOLD CUP

Date	Opponent	Venue	Kickoff Time (ET)	TV Info
Saturday, June 24	Jamaica	Soldier Field; Chicago, Ill.	10 p.m.	FS1, Univision
Wednesday, June 28	St. Kitts and Nevis	CityPark; St. Louis, Mo.	10 p.m.	FS1, UniMás
Sunday, July 2	Trinidad and Tobago	Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.	7 p.m.	FOX, Univision

GOING FOR GOLD

After taking home one continental title last weekend with a dominant performance at the Concacaf Nations League, the USMNT will aim for a record-tying eighth Concacaf Gold Cup this summer. Another championship would mark the first time that one nation has won four straight Concacaf titles.

The U.S. enters the tournament as Gold Cup champion following a strong performance in the 2021 competition. There, the U.S. rattled off six-straight wins and allowed just one goal en route to the title. The championship run was punctuated with a dramatic 1-0 win against Mexico in the tournament final, as defender Miles Robinson headed home the game-winning goal in extra time. That victory marked two continental titles in two months for the USMNT with two almost entirely different rosters.

Held every two years, the Gold Cup has crowned a confederation champion biennially since 1991. Similar to the UEFA European Championship or the Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy across North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The U.S. has won the tournament seven times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2021), just behind all-time leader Mexico (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015). Canada is the only other tournament champion, winning in 2000. 

EXPERIENCE AT THE CORE

The Gold Cup roster is anchored with players who have tournament action under their belts. A total of 11 players have previous experience at this competition, with eight having won at least once and 10 having reached a final. Matt Turner and Miles Robinson earned a spot on the 2021 Tournament Best XI, leading a total of six players to lift the ’21 championship trophy. Five players helped the USMNT lift the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League trophy last weekend: Robinson plus goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Matt Turner, midfielder Alan Soñora and forward Alex Zendejas.

In addition, the squad features seven players from the 2022 FIFA World Cup team: Johnson and Turner plus defenders Aaron Long and DeAndre Yedlin, midfielder Cristian Roldan and forwards Jesús Ferreira and Jordan Morris.

With 78 appearances, two-time FIFA World Cup veteran Yedlin is the leading cap winner, followed by Morris (52), Long (32), Roldan (32), Turner (26), Matt Miazga (23) and Miles Robinson (21).

Sean Johnson becomes the ninth USMNT player named to five or more Gold Cup rosters, joining DaMarcus Beasley (6), Landon Donovan (6), Frankie Hejduk (6), Kasey Keller (6), Clint Dempsey (5), Brad Guzan (5), Cobi Jones (5) and Eric Wynalda (5).

FRESH FACES

Complementing the veteran core is a number of young, hungry players looking to make their mark on the senior USMNT. Seven players are age-eligible for next summer’s 2024 Olympics, the U.S. men’s first appearance at the tournament since 2008: goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, defenders Jalen Neal, John Tolkin and Bryan Reynolds, midfielders Gianluca Busio and Aidan Morris plus forward Cade Cowell.

Twelve players bring six or less caps and will look to gain valuable international tournament experience during the USA’s quest for an eighth Gold Cup: Cowell, A. Morris, Neal, Reynolds, Slonina and Tolkin plus defender DeJuan Jones, midfielders Djordje Mihailovic and Alan Soñora and forwards Julian Gressel, Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas.

Prior to the 2021 Gold Cup, goalkeeper Matt Turner and Miles Robinson had a combined four international caps. The pair played every minute for the U.S. at the tournament, allowing just one goal and earning Best XI honors, catapulting them to some of the first names on the team sheet for the USMNT. Now, these players have the opportunity to take a similar step forward.

REPPING FROM NEAR AND FAR

As expected, this Gold Cup roster has a more U.S.-based influence than the Concacaf Nations League squad, with a total of 16 of 23 players coming from Major League Soccer. Players also join from clubs in England (2), Italy (2), Mexico (2) and Netherlands (1).

With two selections each, FC Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders lead the list of 12 MLS teams represented on the roster, followed by Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Inter Miami, LAFC, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes.

CRUISING FOR A CAP TIE

While all the players on the roster have appeared at least once for the senior team, a total of nine players will seek their first caps in official competition: Cade Cowell, Julian Gressel, DeJuan Jones, Aidan Morris, Jalen Neal, Gaga Slonina, Alan Soñora, John Tolkin and Brandon Vazquez.

Meanwhile, six dual national players will be cap-tied to the United States should they appear in any match during the Gold Cup: Cowell, Gressel, Morris, Slonina, Soñora and Vazquez.

REVVING UP FOR THE REGGAE BOYZ

The USMNT and Jamaica have clashed seven times at the Gold Cup and all but their first meeting in 1993 have come in the knockout stage of the competition. The nations’ last few match-ups have been tightly-contested affairs. Jamaica became the first Caribbean side to advance to the Gold Cup final when they upset the USA 2-1 in the 2015 semifinals. The U.S. took home its sixth confederation crown with a 2-1 victory against Jamaica in the 2017 final on an 88th-minute goal from current USMNT forward Jordan Morris.

The countries met in the semifinals of the 2019 tourney, a 3-1 win on goals from midfielder Weston McKennie and forward Christian Pulisic to send the USA to its 11th Gold Cup Final. In 2021, the U.S. earned a dramatic 1-0 victory in the quarterfinals thanks to an 83rd-minute tally from forward Matthew Hoppe.

SWEET HOME CHICAGO

Chicago is the home of the U.S. Soccer Federation and has played host to a number of important matches for the USMNT. The match against Jamaica will take place on the 16th anniversary of the 2007 Gold Cup Final at Soldier Field, a 2-1 win against Mexico in front of 60,000 fans. After going down 1-0 in the first half, Landon Donovan equalized on a 62nd-minute penalty and Benny Feilhaber netted the game-winner with a highlight-reel volley in the 73rd. Soldier Field has played host to the U.S. in two other Gold Cup Finals, a 1-0 triumph against Panama in 2013 and a 1-0 loss to Mexico in 2019.

Overall, the USMNT is 7-5-3 in Chicago and 8-5-3 in the Chicago area, including one win in suburban Bridgeview. In official competition, the USA is 7-1-0 in the Chicago area.

Three players on the U.S. roster also have strong ties to Chicago. Veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson began his professional career with the Chicago Fire, appearing in 196 matches across all competitions from 2010-2016.

Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (Lemont, Ill.) and goalkeeper Gaga Slonina (Addison, Ill.) are both Fire homegrown products that graduated to play a big role with the first team. Mihailovic made 76 appearances from 2017-2020 before being traded to CF Montreal and has since completed his first season with AZ Alkmaar of the Dutch Eredivisie.

Slonina became the youngest starting goalkeeper in MLS history when he made his first team debut for the Fire at August 2021. After just over a year playing with the first team, Slonina secured a $10M transfer to English Premier League side Chelsea last August and joined the club on a full-time basis in January.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The Concacaf Gold Cup features 15 teams from across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, plus guest nation Qatar, competing for the continental championship. Teams qualified for the Gold Cup via their performance in the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League. U.S. group opponent Saint Kitts and Nevis is the lone tournament debutant.

Teams were drawn into four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarterfinals. From there, it’s a knockout bracket to the tournament final.

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
USA	Mexico	Costa Rica	Canada
Jamaica	Haiti	Panama	Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago	Honduras	El Salvador	Cuba
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Qatar	Martinique	Guadeloupe

USA ROSTER NOTES

• The roster holds an average age of 25 years, 76 days as of June 24.
• The roster also averages 14 caps overall and seven caps in official competition.
• With 78 appearances, two-time FIFA World Cup veteran DeAndre Yedlin is the leading cap winner, followed by Jordan Morris (52), Aaron Long (32), Cristian Roldan (32), Matt Turner (26), Matt Miazga (23) and Miles Robinson (21).
• Eleven players have previous Gold Cup experience, with eight having won the competition at least once (tournament caps/previous rosters; years won) and 10 having reached a final: Jordan Morris (11/2; 2017, 2019), Cristian Roldan (10/3; 2017, 2019, 2021), Miles Robinson (6/1; 2021), Matt Turner (6/1; 2021), Gianluca Busio (6/1; 2021), James Sands (6/1; 2021), DeAndre Yedlin (5/1; 2015), Aaron Long (5/1; 2019), Matt Miazga (4/2; 2017, 2019), Sean Johnson (2/4; 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021), Djordje Mihailovic (2/1; 2019).
• Seven players are 24 or younger: Brandon Vazquez (24); James Sands and Jesús Ferreira (22); Aidan Morris (21); John Tolkin (20); Cade Cowell and Jalen Neal (19)
• Should he appear in one match at the Gold Cup, veteran defender DeAndre Yedlin will become the 25^th USMNT player to earn 40 appearances in official competition. Official competition cap leaders in this squad: Yedlin (39), Jordan Morris (30), Matt Turner (21), Cristian Roldan (19), Miles Robinson (18), Aaron Long (12).
• Sean Johnson becomes the ninth USMNT player named to five or more Gold Cup rosters, joining DaMarcus Beasley (6), Landon Donovan (6), Frankie Hejduk (6), Kasey Keller (6), Clint Dempsey (5), Brad Guzan (5), Cobi Jones (5) and Eric Wynalda (5).
• After earning tournament Best XI honors in 2021, goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Miles Robinson are among six returnees from that year’s championship side. They are joined by Gianluca Busio, Sean Johnson, Cristian Roldan and James Sands.
• Turner claimed the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper at the 2021 Gold Cup, earning five clean sheets and conceding only one goal in six matches. Robinson contributed mightily to those five clean sheets, while also adding two goals including the extra time winner in the 1-0 victory against Mexico in the final. 
• Nine players made their USMNT debut this year: Julian Gressel, DeJuan Jones, Aidan Morris, Jalen Neal, Gaga Slonina, Alan Soñora, John Tolkin, Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas.
• With 10 goals on the season for FC Dallas, forward Jesús Ferreira will come to camp tied for the lead in the MLS Golden Boot race, while winger Jordan Morris sits just one back with nine goals for Seattle Sounders this season.
• In the midst of his first season with Toronto FC, goalkeeper Sean Johnson has six clean sheets thus far, tying him for third overall league wide.

USA-JAMAICA

• Saturday marks the 32nd meeting all-time between the USA and Jamaica, the USMNT holds a 19-3-9 advantage. The U.S. is 6-1-0 vs. Jamaica at the Gold Cup.
• The countries have clashed in the knockout rounds of the last four Gold Cups, including three wins for the USA, highlighted by a victory in the 2017 final.
• In that championship match, Jozy Altidore put the U.S. up just before the break before Jamaica equalized in the 50th and current call-up Jordan Morris netted in the 88th to clinch the USA’s seventh confederation title. 
• During the 2021 Gold Cup, the USA and Jamaica met in the quarterfinals, a narrow 1-0 victory on an 83rd-minute goal from Matthew Hoppe.
• The U.S. last faced the Reggae Boyz during qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During the home leg, the U.S. topped Jamaica 2-0 with a brace from Ricardo Pepi on Oct. 7, 2021 in Austin, Texas. They squared off again in Kingston on Nov. 16, 2021, a 1-1 draw.
• Jamaica forward Cory Burke is a club teammate of U.S. fullback John Tolkin with the New York Red Bulls. Jamaica defender Javain Brown is teammates with U.S. forward Julian Gressel at Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
• Midfielder Bobby Decordova-Reid plays with USMNT defenders Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson at Fulham in the English Premier League. Defender Amari’I Bell just won promotion to the EPL with USMNT goalkeeper Ethan Horvath at Luton Town.
• The USA-Jamaica rivalry dates back to July 24, 1988, a 0-0 draw in World Cup qualifying in Kingston.

JAMAICA DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union/USA; 64/0), 13-Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Reading/ENG; 0/0), 23-Jahmali Waite (Pittsburgh Riverhounds/USA; 3/0)

DEFENDERS (8): 4-Amari’I Bell (Luton Town/ENG), 6-Di’Shon Bernard (Portsmouth/ENG; 0/0), 21-Javain Brown (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN; 20/0), 20-Kemar Lawrence (Minnesota United/USA), 2-Dexter Lembikisa (Wolverhampton Wanderers/ENG), 17-Damion Lowe (Philadelphia Union; 52/2), 19-Adrian Mariappa (Salford City/ENG), 5-Ethan Pinnock (Brentford/ENG)

MIDFIELDERS (6): 10-Bobby Decordova-Reid (Fulham/ENG; 18/3), 8-Daniel Johnson (Preston North End/ENG; 11/2), 3-Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising/USA; 19/0), 15-Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City/WAL; 0/0), 16-Kaheem Parris (Dynamo Kyiv/UKR; 7/0), 22-Jon Russell (Barnsley/ENG; 1/0)

FORWARDS (6): 18-Michail Antonio (West Ham United/ENG; 6/3), 7-Leon Bailey (Aston Villa/ENG; 19/3), 9-Cory Burke (New York Red Bulls/USA; 28/7), 13-Demarai Gray (Everton/ENG; 0/0), 11-Shamar Nicholson (Spartak Moscow/RUS; 33/10), 14-Dujuan Richards (Phoenix All Stars; 2/0)

IN FOCUS: JAMAICA

SOCCER HISTORY

• This year marks Jamaica’s 13th appearance in 17 Gold Cups. The Reggae Boyz have earned strong results at the last few editions, finishing top four in three of the last four tournaments.
• Jamaica finished runner-up in 2015 and 2017, its high watermark at the tournament. The Caribbean nation fell to Mexico in the 2015 final and the U.S. in 2017. The Reggae Boyz also finished third in 1993 and fourth in 1998 and 2019.
• Currently No. 63 in the FIFA World Ranking, Jamaica’s lone World Cup appearance came at France 1998, where it finished third in its group behind Argentina and Croatia, but above Japan.

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

• Jamaica qualified for the 2023 Gold Cup by finishing second in its Concacaf Nations League A group behind Mexico and ahead of Suriname. The top two teams in each of the four League A groups qualified to the tournament.
• In Nations League play, Jamaica went 1-0-3. Its lone win came at home vs. Suriname in June 22, a 3-1 victory. The Reggae Boyz also drew Mexico 2-2 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on the final matchday of group stage play.

JAMAICA NOTES:

• Just one of Jamaica’s 23-player roster competes domestically in Jamaica: 17-year-old forward Dujuan Richards at Phoenix All Stars.
• Twelve are based in England, including six who spent last season with clubs in the English Premier League.
• Six players are based in the United States, including four in Major League Soccer and two in the USL Championship.
• The Reggae Boyz have also called in players from Canada, Russia, Ukraine and Wales.
• Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, one of the top goalkeepers in MLS, serves as captain.
• Minnesota United FC defender Kemar Lawrence is Jamaica’s most experienced player with 75 international caps. Spartak Moscow forward Shamar Nicholson is the team’s leading scorer with 10 goals.

HEAD COACH HEIMIR HALLGRIMMSSON

• Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has led Jamaica since September 2022. He led the Iceland national team from 2013-2018, guiding the small island nation to its greatest period of international success.
• Hallgrimmsson lead Iceland to the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Championship, highlighted by a 2-1 upset victory against England in the Round of 16.
• He also guided Strákarnir okkar to its first World Cup appearance at Russia 2018, where they finished fourth in their group behind Croatia, Argentina and Nigeria.
• Before joining Jamaica, he spent two-and-a-half seasons at Al-Arabi in the Qatar Stars League.
• He started his coaching career in the women’s game while wrapping up his playing career and also spent time working as a dentist while coaching women’s club soccer in his native Iceland.

TOURNAMENT NOTES

• Should teams be tied on points at the end of the group stage, the following tiebreakers will be used:
  • Goal difference
  • Number of goals scored
  • Greatest number of points obtained in matches between the tied teams
  • Greater goal difference in matches between the tied teams
  • Greater number of goals scored in matches among tied teams
  • Lowest number of points based on yellow and red cards in group matches (first yellow card = 1 pt., second yellow card/indirect red card = 3 pts., direct red card = +4 pts., yellow card and direct red card = +5 pts.)
  • Drawing of lots by Concacaf
• Single yellow cards will be eliminated after the quarterfinals.
• If teams are tied at the end of regulation in the knockout stage, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played. If the score is still tied, the game will go to penalty kicks.
• Teams are permitted to use a maximum of five substitutes over the course of three moments. An additional substitution and moment will be allowed in extra time.
• Substitutions made during halftime, before the start of extra time and halftime of extra time do not count as one of the allotted moments.
• The U.S. has hosted the majority of all 16 Gold Cups since 1991. This marks the fifth time that matches will be played in another country, as one game will take place at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. It’s the second time that the venue has hosted Gold Cup matches after holding two games in 2015.