U.S. MNT Takes on Golden Jaguars in Opening Match of Group D;
Kickoff from Allianz Field in St. Paul is Set for 10 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMas and UDN
CHICAGO (June17, 2019) – The U.S. Men’s National Team begins is quest for a seventh confederation championship when it opens up the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup against tournament first-timers Guyana on June 18 in St. Paul, Minn. Coverage from Allianz Field begins at 10 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMas and UDN. Fans can follow all the matches on U.S. Soccer's official Facebook, Twitter (@USMNT) and Instagram (@USMNT) accounts.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 7/0), 22-Tyler Miller (LAFC; 0/0), 1-Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 10/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 14-Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 2/0), 3-Omar Gonzalez (Toronto FC/CAN; 50/3), 2-Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 4/0), 23-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 6/0), 16-Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 5/0), 19-Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 14/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 30/1), 5-Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 7/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 145/17), 8-Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 9/1), 20-Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; 3/1), 10-Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 25/10), 15-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 11/0), 6-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 17/0)
FORWARDS (6): 17-Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 111/41), 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 23/3), 21-Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimãres/POR; 1/0), 18-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 4/0), 11-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 28/5), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 45/7)
GOLD CUP OPENER BRINGS FIRSTS FOR USMNT
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup opener will mark a few firsts in the team’s history. Set for the brand-new Allianz Field in St. Paul, the match will make Minnesota the 28th state (including Washington, D.C.) in which the USMNT has played. Home to Minnesota United FC, Allianz Field is the latest stadium to open in Major League Soccer, providing the fastest sell-out in tournament history when tickets went on sale earlier this year.
Tuesday’s match also marks the first time the USMNT will face Guyana – the 98th different international opponent in team history. One of three nations that are based in South America but play in Concacaf, Guyana qualified for its first Gold Cup by virtue of finishing seventh in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying earlier this year.
ROSTER CHANGES
Due to injuries, USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter has had to make two changes to the Gold Cup roster that was announced on June 6. Five days after the official submission, defender Tyler Adams was forced to withdraw and was replaced by defender Reggie Cannon. On June 15, midfielder Duane Holmes also withdrew and was replaced by Djordje Mihailovic.
Mihailovic has made all three of his international appearances in 2019, scoring in his debut on Jan. 27 against Panama. Cannon has appeared in two matches for the USMNT, both coming last year.
WHAT IS THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP?
Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 14 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just one behind all-time leaders Mexico with seven (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015). Canada is the only other tournament champion, coming away with the title in 2000.
Placed in Group D, the U.S. opens the tournament against Guyana on June 18 in St. Paul, takes on Trinidad & Tobago on June 22 in Cleveland and closes the group stage against regular tournament nemesis Panama on June 26 in Kansas City. The top two teams in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals (June 29-30 in Houston, Philadelphia). The semifinals are set for July 2-3 in Phoenix and Nashville, respectively, before the champion is crowned on July 7 in Chicago.
USA ROSTER NOTES:
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The U.S. roster has an average age of 25 years, 251 days and 24 caps.
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Ten players on the roster have previous Gold Cup experience, led by Michael Bradley (4 tournaments), Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and Sean Johnson (3), Tim Ream and Gyasi Zardes (2), and Paul Arriola, Matt Miazga Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan (1)
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Of the 10 players above, only Tim Ream was not part of the 2017 Gold Cup championship squad.
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A majority of the roster comes from Major League Soccer, with 17 players representing 12 clubs.
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Six players come from clubs outside of MLS, with four from England, and one each from Germany and Portugal
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Along with most tournament’s played, Bradley leads all players on the roster with 20 Gold Cup appearances, followed by Zardes (10), Altidore and Gonzalez (9 each), Jordan Morris (6) and Paul Arriola (5).
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Six players on the roster have registered goals in the Gold Cup: Altidore (4), Bradley, Gonzalez and Morris (3 each), Miazga and Zardes (1 each).
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Winger Tyler Boyd made his USMNT debut in last Sunday’s match against Venezuela.
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LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller is the only player on the Gold Cup roster looking for his USMNT debut.
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A total of 13 players will look for their first Gold Cup appearances: Boyd, Cannon, Lewis, Lima, Long, Lovitz, McKennie, Mihailovic, Miller Pulisic, Steffen, Trapp, Zimmerman
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Only five players were born when the USA won the inaugural Gold Cup title in 1991: Altidore, Bradley, Gonzalez Johnson and Ream
U.S. MNT IN THE GOLD CUP
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Beginning with the inaugural title in 1991, the U.S. has lifted the Gold Cup on six occasions. The USA returned the trophy home in 2002 and won again in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
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The USA has more wins in the CONCACAF Gold Cup than any other nation, going 56-8-9 all-time.
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The U.S. has gone an impressive 32-1-4 during the Group Stage.
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The MNT has advanced to the final on 10 occasions: 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2017.
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The USA has made it to the semifinals in 13 out of 14 tournaments, missing out only in 2000.
USA-GUYANA NOTES
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Tuesday’s Gold Cup opener marks the first match between the USMNT and Guyana.
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The USMNT is 42-38-17 in its first match against a new international opponent.
GUYANA ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Akel Clark (Walking Boyz Company/SUR), Alex Murray (Santos Georgetown), Quillan Roberts (Forge FC/CAN)
DEFENDERS (8): Matthew Briggs (Maldon & Tiptree/ENG), Sam Cox (Hampton & Richmond Borough/ENG), Kadell Daniel (Dover Athletic/ENG), Jordan Dover (Pittsburgh Riverhounds/USA), Liam Gordon (Dagenham & Redbridge/ENG), Kevin Layne (New Amsterdam United), Ronayne Marsh-Brown (Whitehawk/ENG), Terence Vancooten (Stevenage/ENG)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Elliot Bonds (Dagenham & Redbridge/ENG), Warren Creavalle (Philadelphia Union/USA), Neil Danns (Bury/ENG), Stephen Duke-McKenna (Bolton Wanderers/ENG), Pernell Schultz (Western Tigers), Daniel Wilson (Western Tigers)
FORWARDS (6): Callum Harriot (Reading/ENG), Sheldon Holder (Morvant Caledonia United/TRI), Anthony Jeffrey (Dover Athletic/ENG), Keanu Marsh-Brown (Newport County/WAL), Terrel Ondaan (Telstar/NED), Emery Welshman (Forge FC/CAN)
IN FOCUS: GUYANA
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Guyana is coached by former Jamaica international Michael Johnson, who successfully led the Golden Jaguars to the Gold Cup by attaining a 3-1-0 record in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.
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Three players have ties to the U.S. or Major League Soccer. Former Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake and FC Cincinnati attacker Emery Welshman features in the squad, alongside Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Jordan Dover. Current Philadelphia Union midfielder Warren Creavalle was originally on the roster but was forced out due to injury and replaced by California-born Brandon Beresford, who currently plays for Peachtree City MOBA in USL League Two.
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Seventeen players on the squad were born outside of Guyana, with 12 born in England, where a number of the players ply their trades in the country’s lower leagues.
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Forward Callum Harriot was teammates with U.S. defender Matt Miazga at Reading in the English Championship this past season.