As the United States gears up to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, key preparatory events are already taking place, including the first-ever expanded Club World Cup featuring 32 teams from around the globe.
Concurrent with this international tournament, the U.S. is also hosting the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the premier competition for national teams in North America.
Tonight, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) faces its toughest challenge in Group D, as they take on Saudi Arabia at 9:15 p.m. ET.
This matchup is particularly significant, as Saudi Arabia is ranked 58th in the world, presenting a greater challenge compared to the U.S.’s other group opponents — Haiti at 83rd and Trinidad and Tobago, who the USMNT decisively defeated 5-0 in their opening match.
Currently, the USMNT ranks 16th in the world but will be fielding a squad that has only seven players from last summer’s Copa America.
Notably, several star players are missing from the lineup, including Fulham left back Antonee Robinson, AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, and Juventus’ Tim Weah and Weston McKennie.
Robinson is still recovering from knee surgery, while Weah and McKennie are participating in the Club World Cup, and Pulisic has opted out of this tournament.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the United States is a favorite with odds of -185, while Saudi Arabia sits at +550, with a draw set at +310.
The USMNT displayed a commanding performance in their opening match against Trinidad and Tobago, winning by a score of 5-0.
This victory helped erase some of the painful memories from their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
In that match, the U.S. dominated with 21 shots compared to Trinidad and Tobago’s three, and they controlled 70% of the possession throughout the match.
Four different players scored, with Malik Tillman netting a first-half brace, while Max Arfsten provided two assists in the second half.
Such a well-rounded team effort was desperately needed following a disappointing 4-0 loss to Switzerland in a friendly prior to the tournament.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia struggled in their opening encounter, managing only 43% possession and allowing 13 shots against Haiti, a team that has largely remained in the 80th to 90th range in global rankings.
Despite their underwhelming performance, the Saudis have an impressive history, having upset world champions Argentina during the 2022 World Cup.
However, they will be missing key players, including al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who was instrumental in that famous victory.
Even with a less-than-full-strength squad, the USMNT holds an advantage in market value and overall talent, with their players valued at a combined 181 million Euros,
significantly surpassing the market value of the current Saudi team.
Among the U.S. players, Tillman has displayed exceptional form in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, contributing to numerous goals for PSV Eindhoven, who achieved back-to-back league titles.
Tyler Adams, absent from the first match, is known for his strong presence in midfield, boasting the highest pass completion percentage on Bournemouth’s roster, while Johnny Cardoso excelled in interceptions in La Liga.
If both Adams and Cardoso take to the field, the USMNT could elevate their gameplay even further.
As for Saudi Arabia’s attack, they appear to be struggling with a lack of effective options, as none of their current forwards found the back of the net more than five times in the recent Saudi Pro League.
This creates an opportunity for the American defense, led by goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner, to potentially keep a clean sheet.
Freese has shown solid form with a 74.0% save percentage in all competitions this season, while Turner, the most-capped player on the roster, had a standout 2021 Gold Cup where he made 22 saves out of 23 shots faced.
With all these factors considered, the matchup promises to be an exciting test for the USMNT as they aim to secure a spot in the next stage of the Gold Cup.
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