Concacaf Gold Cup Closing 2021: USA vs. Mexico

Concacaf Gold Cup Final 2021
August 1, 2021
Allegiant Stadium; Las Vegas, Nevada
Live Broadcast: Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision, and TUDN
Kick-off: 9 p.m. ET
Social Media: @USMNT on Twitter and Instagram; @ussoccer on Facebook, the US soccer app

USMNT starting XI against Mexico tonight: 1-Matt Turner, 2-Reggie Cannon, 7-Paul Arriola (Capt.), 9-Gyasi Zardes, 12-Miles Robinson, 13-Matthew Hoppe, 16-James Sands, 17-Sebastian Lletget, 19-Eryk Williamson, 21 -George Bello, 23-Kellyn Acosta

Alternates: 18-Sean Johnson, 22-Brad Guzan, 3-Sam Vines, 4-Donovan Pines, 6-Gianluca Busio, 8-Nicholas Gioacchini, 10-Cristian Roldan, 11-Daryl Dike, 14-Jackson Yueill, 15-Jonathan Lewis, 20-Shaq Moore, 24-Henry Kessler

PLAY INSTRUCTIONS | FIVE KNOWS ABOUT MEXICO | USMNT TORTÖRER VS. MEXICO

• USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this game): Gyasi Zardes (62), Paul Arriola (39), Kellyn Acosta (37), Sebastian Lletget (29), Reggie Cannon (21), Miles Robinson (9), Matt Turner ( 7), James Sands (6), Matthew Hoppe (5), George Bello (4), Eryk Williamson (4)
  

• USMNT Starting XI Gold Cup Cap Numbers (including this game): Gyasi Zardes (22), Paul Arriola (14), Kellyn Acosta (10), Reggie Cannon (8), Sebastian Lletget (5), Miles Robinson (6), Matt Turner (6), James Sands (6), Matthew Hoppe (5), Eryk Williamson (3), George Bello (2)
  

• Gregg Berhalter has made four changes to the USMNT squad since Thursday’s semi-final against Qatar, adding defenders George Bello and Reggie Cannon, midfielder Eryk Williamson and striker Gyasi Zardes.
  

• Tonight’s starting XI has an average age of 24 years and 236 days. It is the second-youngest USMNT line-up in a final, behind the squad that began their Concacaf Nations League win against Mexico on June 6 (24 years, 206 days).
  

• Six players in the USMNT starting XI are 24 and younger: George Bello (19), Matthew Hoppe (20), James Sands (21), Reggie Cannon (23), Miles Robinson and Eryk Williamson (24)
  

• The starting line-up has an average of 19 internationals

• Paul Arriola is competing in his third consecutive Gold Cup final and will be captain of the USMNT for the second time tonight. The veteran striker first wore the armband in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Jamaica on July 25th.

• Midfielder Kellyn Acosta is the only starter that evening, who also started the Concacaf Nations League final against Mexico on June 6th in Denver. Both Reggie Cannon and Sebastian Lletget came off the bench in the game.

• After returning to the USMNT in a test win against El Salvador last December, Acosta will play for the United States in his 14th straight game tonight. He is the only player to appear in any of the US 13 games in 2021.

• Similarly, Lletget appeared in all but one game in 2021, remaining on the bench in the 6-1 win over Martinique on July 15.

• Cannon also earned his first start at the tournament. The defender has substituted in each of the last three games.

• Defender George Bello makes his second Gold Cup appearance after playing Martinique for the full 90 minutes.

• Goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Miles Robinson start for the sixth game in a row. The duo played every minute of the 2021 Gold Cup and led the US defense with just one goal conceded in 540 minutes of play.

• Paul Arriola and Reggie Cannon also started in the 2019 final against Mexico, while Gyasi Zardes was substituted on in that game. Substitute midfielder Cristian Roldan also came off the bench in the 2019 final.

• While Arriola is heading into his third consecutive Gold Cup final, Zardes will also compete in his third consecutive Confederation championship game.

• Zardes moves into sole possession of fifth place on the USMNT Gold Cup list, behind Landon Donovan (34), Michael Bradley (26), Clint Dempsey (24) and Kasey Keller (23).

• Nine out of eleven starters come from Major League Soccer, with Cannon (Boavista; Portugal) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; Germany) being the two players abroad

• Substitute player Henry Kessler would make his USMNT debut should he appear tonight. The defender joined the squad as a medical replacement for Walker Zimmerman ahead of the quarter-finals

• Teams are allowed five substitutions during the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup 2021. If the game goes into overtime, the teams are allowed to make an additional substitution.

• The USMNT ranks 20-36-15 in 71 previous encounters against Mexico. The USA stand 2-5-0 against El Trí in the Concacaf Gold Cup game and 1-5-0 in the Gold Cup final.

• Today’s game is the USMNT’s first game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and the national team’s first game in the state of Nevada.

• The USMNT is playing in a 12th final with a Gold Cup record. Should the US win, they’ll get their seventh Confederation Cup.

• The US is currently in an eight-game winning streak, the second longest in team history. The record is 12 victories, which were achieved from June 2 to August 14, 2013.

• The USMNT is 25-6-3 in 34 games under Gregg Berhalter. Should the US win tonight, he would tie Steve Sampson (26-22-14; 52 games) to fifth place among the USMNT head coaches.
  

• Berhalter is 10-1-0 in Gold Cup games. Among the USMNT managers, he is already third all-time in the Gold Cup game, behind Bruce Arena (19 wins) and Bob Bradley (14).