USA

The USA go into the Nations League finals as favourites to retain their title won last June. If they win, it will be their third title and they will maintain their record of having been the only team to have won the Concacaf Nations League that was first played in 2019/20.

What to expect

In the first Nations League final at the Mile High Stadium in 2020 they beat Mexico with a Christian Pulisic goal in extra time. In 2023 in the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas they beat Mexico 3-0 in the semi-final before easing past Canada 2-0 in the final.

Their journey to the final four thought has not been without drama. In the quarter finals last November they beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 at home, but then surprisingly lost 2-1 away. Since then the US have played just one match, beating Slovenia 1-0 in a friendly filled with players from the MLS.

The 2023 Nations League performance was achieved under interim coach BJ Callaghan who sent out a younger looking US team with a mission to showcase their individual skills. The result was a remarkable transformation from the often too laboured-looking formations of the US team in recent years into a dynamic and flowing attacking force that picked the Mexicans apart.

Callaghan has since stepped aside for the return of Greg Berhalter who had previously not had his contract renewed pending an investigation by the US federation following a complaint against him over post-World Cup remarks he made about Gio Reyna, and a subsequent report of a historical domestic violence incident.

Berhlater to date has shown a return to a more cautious 4-3-3 system. That will get results but will not necessarily win prizes. More importantly, will it win the love of his new masters overseeing performance within the US set-up, and the US fans themselves who at times have seemed a little disconnected from their national team in a period where the game has never been so high profile in the US.

The US open against Jamaica at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and if they get past the Reggae Boyz, will face the winner of Mexico and Panama three days later at the same venue.

Jamaica will present a challenge to the US with their Premier League looking attacking line-up, though doubtless the US will have been encouraged by the Jamaicans not selecting in-form winger Leon Bailey. The smart money will likely be on the US but Jamaica, if they can retain their discipline, are very capable of springing a surprise.

Berhalter’s 23-player squad includes just one player from the MLS (Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati), all the rest play their club football in Europe.

Berhalter has named Nottingham Forest’s Reyna in his squad and his midfield creativity could be key in their push for the title. In midfield Berhalter will have Yunus Musah (a breakthrough in 2023 and now at AC Milan), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) and Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis) on his roster. And if he needs to revert to the old ways he has Weston McKennie, out of favour at Juventus but a Berhalter stalwart who was voted most valuable player at the 2020 Nations Cup finals.

Berhalter has also included Tyler Adams has only just returned for Premier League Bournemouth after a year due to a hamstring surgery in March 2023, followed by a second operation six months later after a setback.

Up front Berhalter has called in in-form Norwich striker Josh Sargent alongside the mercurial Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun.

Berhalter has also kept faith in PSV defender Sergino Dest who has the all the ability but not always the temperament to match.

Star players

AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic is likely to once again be the US talisman. Having made a successful transition to Italy he is scoring goals and has been relatively free of injury. When the US need a goal he is more often than not the player to provide it. Pulisic was voted the most valuable player at the 2023 Nations Finals.

Musah’s work rate and passing ability is impressive and will only have improved in Italy.

If Berhalter unleashes Pepi and Bagolun up front, with Timothy Weah in support on the wing, he has a strike force that will be difficult to hold back.

Gregg Berhalter

Racking up 44 caps for the USMNT during his playing career, Berhalter was first handed the job in December 2018. Between 2018 and December 2022 his record was 60 matches, 37 win, 12 draws and 11 losses, with and impressive +78 goal difference.

In December 2022 his contract ran out and was not renewed until August 1 of 2023 when the US soccer federation’s investigation into his conduct was complete. He has since won four and lost three of his matches in charge. With the US federation undergoing change and the World Cup arriving in 2026, there is pressure on him to show that he is the right man to build a team that is competitive of competing beyond the last 16, the stage at which the US were knocked out at the 2022 World Cup.

Schedule

March 21 vs Jamaica, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas. 4pm

March 24 vs Mexico or Panama, 3^rd place play-off or final, Arlington. 3pm or 6.15pm

Squad