2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Final Round Match No. 1
Sept. 2, 2021
Estadio Cuscatlan; San Salvador, El Salvador
Live Broadcast: Coverage at 10 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and UNIVERSO Kickoff: 10:05 p.m. ET
Social Media: @USMNT on Twitter and Instagram; @ussoccer on Facebook , The U.S. Soccer App
Tonight’s USMNT Starting XI vs. El Salvador: 1-Matt Turner, 2-Sergiño Dest, 4-Tyler Adams, 7-Gio Reyna, 8-Weston McKennie, 9-Josh Sargent, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 13-Tim Ream, 20-Konrad de la Fuente, 22-DeAndre Yedlin
Substitutes: 16-Ethan Horvath, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 5-Antonee Robinson, 6-John Brooks, 10-Cristian Roldan, 14-Ricardo Pepi, 15-Mark McKenzie, 17-Sebastian Lletget, 18-James Sands, 19-Jordan Pefok, 21-George Bello, 23-Kellyn Acosta
USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): DeAndre Yedlin (65), Tim Ream (46), Weston McKennie (25), Josh Sargent (17), Tyler Adams (15), Sergiño Dest (12), Gio Reyna (9), Miles Robinson (9), Brenden Aaronson (8), Matt Turner (8), Konrad de la Fuente (2)
USMNT Starting XI WCQ Cap Numbers (including this match): DeAndre Yedlin (11), Tim Ream (7), Weston McKennie (1), Josh Sargent (1), Tyler Adams (1), Sergiño Dest (1), Gio Reyna (1), Miles Robinson (1), Brenden Aaronson (1), Matt Turner (1), Konrad de la Fuente (1)
The lineup averages 19 caps overall and seven in official competition.
Nine starters will make their World Cup Qualifying debut tonight, tying the USMNT’s modern era record for most debutants in a WCQ Starting XI. The only previous occurrence since the 1990 cycle came in the opening game of 1998 World Cup Qualifying on Nov. 3, 1996 against Guatemala in Washington, D.C. This game also saw a modern era record 12 players make their World Cup Qualifying debuts for the USMNT.
Tonight’s Starting XI has an average age of 23 years, 282 days. It is the USMNT’s fourth youngest WCQ lineup in the modern era and third youngest in matches where the team had not already qualified or advanced to the next round:
Oct. 12, 2005 vs. Panama (23 years, 191 days; already qualified)
April 16, 1989 at Costa Rica (23 years, 216 days)
April 30, 1989 vs. Costa Rica (23 years, 266 days)
Eight starters are age 24 and younger: Miles Robinson (24); Weston McKennie (23); Tyler Adams (22); Josh Sargent (21); Brenden Aaronson, Sergiño Dest and Konrad de la Fuente (20); Gio Reyna (18)
Nine of 11 starters appeared in one of the USMNT’s two finals against Mexico during the summer. Nations League (7): Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Tim Ream, Josh Sargent, DeAndre Yedlin; Gold Cup (2): Miles Robinson, Matt Turner
At 18 years, 293 days, Gio Reyna is the second youngest USMNT player to start a World Cup Qualifying match. He follows only Christian Pulisic, who started his first qualifier at 17 years, 353 days on Sept. 6, 2016 against Trinidad and Tobago in Jacksonville, Fla.
Reyna will become the third youngest USMNT player to make his World Cup Qualifying debut behind only Pulisic (17 years, 193 days; March 29, 2016 vs. Guatemala) and Jonathan Spector (18 years, 261 days; Nov. 17, 2004 vs. Jamaica). The Bedford, N.Y. product is the youngest USMNT player to debut in a final round qualifier.
Captaining the side for the second time tonight, Tyler Adams (22 years, 200 days) becomes the youngest player to captain the USMNT in a World Cup Qualifier during the modern era. The mark was previously held by Landon Donovan who was 22 years, 219 days when he wore the armband, coincidentally in the USMNT’s 2-0 win at El Salvador Oct. 9, 2004.
Konrad de la Fuente earns his second cap tonight after making his USMNT debut on Nov. 12, 2020 at Wales.
Brenden Aaronson registered both his first international goal and assist in the USA’s last meeting with El Salvador, a 6-0 friendly win on Dec. 9, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale.
The lone uncapped player on the roster, Ricardo Pepi would become the second youngest player to appear for the USMNT in a World Cup Qualifier should he debut in tonight’s match (18 years, 245 days).
Teams may dress up to 23 players and are allowed a total of five substitutions in three different moments throughout the match.
Christian Pulisic (fitness) and Zack Steffen (back spasms) did not travel to El Salvador for tonight’s World Cup Qualifying opener.
Juan Calderon (Costa Rica) is the referee for tonight’s match. He previously served as the center referee for the USA’s clash with Qatar in the Gold Cup Semifinal on July 29, 2021.
The USMNT comes into tonight’s encounter with El Salvador on a nine-match winning streak – the second longest in team history after running off 12-straight victories from June 2-August 14, 2013.
The USMNT is 18-1-5 all-time against El Salvador and holds an unbeaten 5-0-3 record against La Selecta in qualifying (Home: 3-0-1; Away: 1-0-2; Neutral: 1-0-0)