PREVIEW: USMNT Meets Uruguay in 2024 Copa América Group C Finale on Monday

CHICAGO (June 29, 2024) — The U.S. Men’s National team is set for its final group stage match at the 2024 Copa América against Uruguay, which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, July 1 from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Broadcast coverage will be available on FS1, Univision, TUDN, and FDP Radio.

Fans can also follow the match via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer App.

DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 18-Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 10), 25-Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 13), 1-Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 43

DEFENDERS (9): 2-Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), 23-Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), 24-Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 13/0), 16-Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 19/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 60/1), 3-Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 20/1), 5-Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 45/4), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), 22-Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 13/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 4-Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 41/2), 15-Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 15/0), 14-Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 22/0), 8-Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 55/11), 6-Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 38/0), 7-Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 30/8), 17-Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 11/0)

FORWARDS (7): 11-Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 42/8), 20-Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 14/5), 9-Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 27/10), 10-Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 70/30), 26-Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 24/5), 21-Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), 19-Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 10/4)

KNOCKOUT ROUND SCENARIOS

Entering the match, the USMNT currently sits behind Uruguay (2-0-0; 6 pts.) in second place in Group C with three points from their first two matches played. A 2-0 win over Bolivia in their opening match of the tournament was followed by Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Panama, which saw the U.S. play with 10 men for over 70 minutes after Tim Weah’s 18th minute red card.

Uruguay lead the group on the strength of a 3-1 win against Panama in their tournament opener, followed by a 5-0 defeat of Bolivia on Thursday. Midfielder Maximiliano Araújo and forward Darwin Núñez are two of the five players to have scored multiple goals (2) in Copa América so far, a list that also includes the USMNT’s Folarin Balogun.

The USMNT is level on points with Panama coming out of Thursday’s defeat, but remains ahead of them in the standings based on goal differential. Bolivia (0-2-0, 0 pts.) is currently in fourth. Panama and Bolivia’s match will kick off simultaneously from Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium alongside USA-Uruguay at 9 p.m. ET.

The scenarios in which the USMNT can qualify for the quarterfinals are as follows:

• Win against Uruguay and win the goal-differential tiebreaker should Panama defeat Bolivia.
• Draw against Uruguay, combined with a Panama-Bolivia draw or a Panama loss.
• Lose against Uruguay, combined with a Bolivia win and a win in the goal differential tiebreaker. Current goal differentials are U.S. +1, Panama -1, and Bolivia -7.

Uruguay will clinch first place in the group with a win or draw against the U.S. They can also still clinch first with a loss as long as they maintain their goal differential advantage over the other teams in the group.

HISTORY OF USMNT ADVANCING AT COPA AMÉRICA

This year’s edition marks the USMNT’s fifth participation at Copa América and the team has twice before advanced to the group stage, coming in 1995 and 2016. In both scenarios, the USA went into its final group stage match essentially needing a win to secure advancement.

At the 1995 tournament in Uruguay, the USA opened with a 2-1 win against Chile, before falling 1-0 to Bolivia in the second match. Facing one of the tournament favorites Argentina in the group finale, the USMNT used goals from Frank Klopas, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda to pull of a 3-0 upset against La Albiceleste, to not only advance, but claim top spot in the group. The team then went on to earn a fourth-place finish.

At Copa América Centenario in 2016, the USA fell 2-0 to Colombia in its first game, but rallied strongly with a 4-0 defeat of Costa Rica on Matchday Two. Facing a must-win situation in the group finale against Paraguay, the USMNT used a 27th minute goal from Clint Dempsey to earn a hard-fought 1-0 win and combined with Costa Rica’s 3-2 upset of Colombia, the team also claimed top spot in the group and also finished fourth at the tournament.

AGAINST URUGUAY

The U.S. is 2-2-4 against La Celeste all-time, having met on one previous occasion in Copa América play. That meeting came in a group stage match in Ambato, Ecuador on June 16, 1993, where a 50th minute Santiago Ostolaza header made the difference in a 1-0 Uruguay win.

In the USMNT’s most recent meeting with Uruguay, the teams played to a scoreless draw in Kansas City, Kansas on June 5, 2022. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded the clean sheet for the USA, Fernando Muslera for Uruguay. Then 19 years old, defender Joe Scally made his first USMNT start in what was his second senior team appearance.

The USMNT’s series with Uruguay dates back a century, with the teams having met for the very first time at the 1924 Paris Olympics, a tournament where Uruguay went on to win their first of consecutive gold medals.

IN KANSAS CITY

This will be just the second visit for the USMNT to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The first was a big one, as the team faced Costa Rica in a final round World Cup Qualifier on April 25, 2001. A goal by two-time World Cup veteran and former USMNT assistant coach Josh Wolff led the U.S. to a 1-0 shutout in front of 37,319 fans. The only other appearance on the Missouri side of the city came in a World Cup qualifier in 1968, a 6-2 win against Bermuda at Municipal Stadium.

USA HISTORY IN COPA AMÉRICA

The U.S. has participated in Copa América four times since the tournament’s inception in 1916. After its inaugural appearance in 1993, the USA surprised the world with a 3-0 win against Argentina in the group stage in 1995 en route to a fourth-place finish, losing to Brazil in the semifinal. After not advancing from the group stage in 2007, the U.S. shone in the 2016 Copa América Centenario, again finishing fourth after falling to a No. 1-ranked Argentina team led by Lionel Messi in the semifinal.

The United States is one of six guest teams in the CONMEBOL confederation championship. No invitee from outside South America has ever won the tournament. Since 2011, only two of 12 have even reached the knockout rounds, with the USA and Mexico both advancing at the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

ROSTER NOTES

• The roster will have an average age of 25 years, 238 days as of matchday against Uruguay on July 1. It is the second-youngest squad the USA has sent to five editions of the Copa América, behind only the 2007 roster (24 years, 280 days).
• The 26 players represent clubs in 11 different countries: England (8), Italy (5), Netherlands (3), Germany (2), Spain (2), USA (2), Belgium (1), Canada (1), France (1), Scotland (1), Wales (1).
• Forward Tim Weah will not be available for selection against Uruguay as he serves the first of a two-game suspension following his 18th minute red card against Panama on Thursday.
• CAUTION WATCH: Weston McKennie (Bolivia), Chris Richards (Panama) and Antonee Robinson (Panama), have each picked up yellow cards during the first two matches, meaning if any receive another against Uruguay, they will serve a one-game suspension in a potential quarterfinal match.
• The USMNT is 15W-7L-5D all-time in the third group stage match of a traditional tournament. The team has won each of its last six matches in this scenario, dating back to the 1-0 win against Paraguay at Copa América Centenario in 2016.
• Entering the Uruguay match, Folarin Balogun has scored in back-to-back matches for the first time in his international career. He has five goals for the USMNT in 14 appearances to date. He also became the second USMNT player to score in consecutive Copa América appearances after Clint Dempsey (three straight in 2016).
• Against Panama, forward Josh Sargent made his first appearance for the USMNT since its 1-0 win against IR Iran in the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 29, 2022. He entered in the 84th minute for Tim Ream.
• Forward Christian Pulisic and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath are the only two players on the roster that took part in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.
• Horvath made his first career Copa América appearance after entering the match as a second-half substitution for an injured Matt Turner against Panama. It was Horvath’s 10th appearance for the USMNT, and first since a 4-0 friendly win against Oman on Sept. 12, 2023.
• Pulisic, who made his fifth Copa América appearance in the Panama match, is also the leading cap-winner on the roster (70), followed by Tim Ream (60), Weston McKennie (55), Antonee Robinson (45), Matt Turner (43), Tyler Adams (41), Tim Weah (41) and Yunus Musah (39).
• Eighteen of the 26 players were on the 2022 FIFA World Cup roster.
• Nine players are age 23 and younger: Brenden Aaronson (23); Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, Kristoffer Lund and Malik Tillman (22); Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna and Joe Scally (21).
• At 36 years, 261 days at the time of the Bolivia match, center back Tim Ream became the oldest field player to appear for the USA in Copa América. The previous oldest was Fernando Clavijo who was 36 years, 150 days when he appeared in the 3-3 draw with Venezuela on June 22, 1993 in Quito, Ecuador.
• All 26 players have been part of at least one previous tournament roster for the USMNT (World Cup, Gold Cup, Copa América, CNL Finals): Sean Johnson (9); Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream (7); Weston McKennie and Matt Turner (6); Brenden Aaronson, Ethan Horvath, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson and Tim Weah (5); Tyler Adams and Joe Scally (4); Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre, Mark McKenzie, Shaq Moore, Ricardo Pepi, Chris Richards, and Haji Wright (3); Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kristoffer Lund and Malik Tillman (2).

USA-URUGUAY NOTES

• The U.S. is 2-2-4 against Uruguay all-time.
• The U.S. has appeared against Uruguay in Copa América play just once before, a 1-0 Uruguay win in the group stage on June 16, 1993 in Ambato, Ecuador.
• Sean Johnson leads the list of 11 players who appeared in the USA’s last match against Uruguay, the veteran goalkeeper making three saves to earn the shutout in the 0-0 draw on June 5, 2022, in Kansas City, Kan.
• Defender Joe Scally earned his first USMNT start in the 2022 match against Uruguay, playing 90 minutes in what was his second appearance overall.

URUGUAY OF LATE

Uruguay is currently in second place in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying in CONMEBOL with a 4-1-1 mark and 13 points. Since the start of the year, La Celeste is 3-1-1, which includes their two wins in Copa América 2024.

The Uruguayans started off Copa on the right foot behind a 3-1 victory over Panama in Miami on June 23. Maximiliano Araújo lifted the team into a 16th-minute lead before Núñez (85th minute) and Matías Viña (one minute into stoppage) gave them some breathing room.

La Celeste then rolled to a 5-0 triumph over Bolivia to win its second match of this Copa América on Thursday night. Pellistri struck in the eighth minute and Núñez (21st minute) made it a two-goal lead by halftime before Maximiliano Araújo (77th minute), Federico Valverde (81st

Prior to the tournament starting, the Uruguayans rolled to a 4-0 triumph over Mexico behind Darwin Núñez's hat-trick (7’, 44’, 49’) in a friendly held in Denver, Colo. on June 5. Facundo Pellistri added a 26th-minute tally.

AT THE HELM

Marcelo Bielsa took over the reins on May 15, 2023, after the team's poor performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Uruguayans finished a disappointing third in their group behind Portugal and Korea Republic.

Bielsa, 68, replaced caretaker coach Marcelo Broli, and became only the second foreigner to guide the South American squad. Former Argentine star Daniel Passarella was the first.

Under Bielsa, Uruguay is 9-2-3 to date.

Bielsa previously coached Argentina at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and led the country's Under-23 side to the 2004 gold medal at the Athens Olympics. He also managed the Chile National Team from 2007-2011

On the club level, Bielsa has additionally managed a host of teams, including Atlas, Velez Sarsfield, Espanyol, Athletic Bilboa, Marseille, Lazio, Lille, and Leeds United.

URUGUAY ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sergio Rochet (Internacional/BRA; 21/0), Santiago Mele (Junior de Barranquilla/COL; 4/0), Franco Israel (Sporting Clube/POR; 2/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Ronald Araújo (Barcelona/ESP; 18/1), José Giménez (Atlético Madrid/ESP; 85/8), Nicolás Marichal (Dynamo Moscow/RUS; 1/0), Matías Viña (Flamengo/BRA; 38/1), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar/RUS; 4/0), Mathías Olivera (Napoli/ITA; 20/1), Sebastián Cáceres (Club América/MEX; 13/0), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo/BRA; 15/0), Nahitan Nández (Cagliari/ITA; 58/0)

MIDFIELDERS: (8) Maximiliano Araújo (Toluca/MEX; 10/3), Manuel Ugarte (Paris Saint-Germain/ FRA; 18/0), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham/ENG; 61/2), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/ESP; 58/7), Emiliano Martínez (Midtjylland/DEN; 2/0), Nicolás de la Cruz (Flamengo/BRA; 27/5), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo/BRA; 47/10), Agustín Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense/BRA; 12/1)

FORWARDS (6): Brian Rodríguez (Club América/MEX; 23/4), Brian Ocampo (Cádiz/ESP; 1/0), Facundo Pellistri (Granada/ESP; 22/2), Cristian Olivera (Los Angeles FC/USA; 4/0), Darwin Núñez (Liverpool/ENG; 25/13), Luis Suárez (Inter Miami/USA; 138/68)