USMNT vs. Costa Rica: Starting XI & Lineup Notes

LINEUP NOTES
USMNT vs. Costa Rica
International Friendly
Jan. 22, 2025
Inter&Co Stadium; Orlando, Fla.
Pre-Game Coverage: 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock and Fútbol de Primera Radio.
Social Media: @USMNT on X and Instagram; U.S. Soccer on Facebook, The U.S. Soccer App

Today’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Costa Rica: 22-Zack Steffen; 12-Miles Robinson, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 5-DeJuan Jones; 14-Emeka Eneli, 6-Benjamin Cremaschi; 19-Indiana Vassilev, 10-Diego Luna, 17-Brian Gutiérrez; 8-Brian White

Substitutes: 1-Patrick Schulte,21-Matt Freese, 7-Patrick Agyemang, 11-Matko Miljevic, 15-Max Arfsten, 16-Jack McGlynn, 18-Shaq Moore, 20-George Campbell, 23-Caden Clark

GAME NOTES | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COSTA RICA

• USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Tim Ream (67), Walker Zimmerman (43), Miles Robinson (32), Zack Steffen (30), DeJuan Jones (10), Benjamin Cremaschi (3), Diego Luna (3), Brian White (3), Emeka Eneli (2), Brian Gutiérrez (2), Indiana Vassilev (2).
• Mauricio Pochettino makes eight changes from the lineup that began Saturday’s match against Venezuela, holding over defender Miles Robinson and midfielders Benjamin Cremaschi and Brian Gutiérrez.
• Tonight’s lineup has an average age of 26 years, 308 days, marking the oldest Starting XI for a USMNT early-year friendly since the lineup that faced Japan on Feb. 10, 2006 in San Francisco (27 years, 332 days).
• The roster also averages 17 caps.
• Robinson will start his first international match at right back, making way for veteran center backs Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman who pair together for the first time since the Round of 16 match against Netherlands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Ream and Zimmerman partnered centrally in three of the four U.S. matches in Qatar.
• Captaining the USMNT for the 14th time tonight, Ream will also earn his 67th cap, equaling the career total of fellow St. Louis native and 1994 World Cup veteran Mike Sorber.
• Goalkeeper Zack Steffen earns his first international appearance since March 30, 2022 at Costa Rica, the final match of the USA’s successful run in 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. The 29-year-old also becomes the eight USMNT goalkeeper to reach 30 caps.
• Robinson and Zimmerman also featured with Steffen in the 2022 qualifying finale, which was also the last meeting between the USA and Costa Rica.
• Emeka Eneli and Indiana Vassilev earn their first starts for the USMNT tonight.
• With Eneli and Luna in the lineup, Real Salt Lake leads the list of 10 MLS clubs represented in tonight’s Starting XI and are joined by Charlotte FC (Ream), Chicago Fire (Gutiérrez), FC Cincinnati (Robinson), Colorado Rapids (Steffen), Columbus Crew (Jones), Inter Miami (Cremaschi), Nashville SC (Zimmerman), St. Louis CITY (Vassilev), Vancouver Whitecaps (White).
• Eight starters are products of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, with five developed by MLS clubs: Benja Cremaschi (Weston FC, Inter Miami), Emeka Eneli (Columbus Crew), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Diego Luna (San Jose Earthquakes), Miles Robinson (FC Boston Bolts), Zack Steffen (Philadelphia Union, FC DELCO), Indiana Vassilev (IMG Academy), Brian White (Players Development Academy).
• The USA is 19W-17L-6D in 42 all-time meetings with Costa Rica.