USMNT Sets Sights on Panama in Concacaf Nations League Semifinal

CHICAGO (March 19, 2025) — The U.S. Men’s National Team’s final run of competitive matches before next year’s World Cup kicks off Thursday in Los Angeles, where it will face Panama in a 2025 Concacaf Nations League semifinal. This month’s Nations League final four and then this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup -- the regional championship tournament -- represent the USA’s last shots at silverware before it welcomes the world in 2026.

Thursday’s semifinal against Panama will mark the USMNT’s first visit to SoFi Stadium, a 70,240-seat venue that opened in 2020. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast by Paramount+, Univision and Fútbol de Primera Radio. Fans can also follow the game via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer app.

At stake will be a spot in Sunday’s Nations League decider against either Canada or Mexico. Champions in 2021, 2023 and 2024, the Americans are seeking a fourth consecutive Nations League crown. No senior men’s team has won a Concacaf competition four straight times -- not a country or club, and not on grass, the sand or a futsal court.

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

GOALKEEPERS (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 49/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liège/BEL; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 17/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 67/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 19/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 42/2), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire; 2/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 6/0)

FORWARDS (7): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 3/1) Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 45/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 76/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 27/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 42/7), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 3/1)

CHASING FOUR IN A ROW

Launched in 2019 and modeled after its UEFA counterpart, the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) is designed to provide additional competitive games for Concacaf’s 41 members while establishing a consistent and inclusive Gold Cup qualifying framework. It’s played in three tiers -- A, B and C competitions -- with promotion and relegation. A single-elimination final four then determines a champion.

The inaugural CNL season concluded in June 2021 as the USA outlasted Mexico, 3-2, in an epic extra-time final in Denver. That memorable match -- punctuated by Weston McKennie’s late equalizer and then Christian Pulisic’s penalty clincher -- earned significant traction for the Nations League. Now in its fourth season, the CNL has been firmly established as Concacaf’s second international event.

The Americans maintained their dominance as the CNL format evolved, beating Canada, 2-0, in the 2023 final and then Mexico again by the famously familiar Dos A Cero scoreline last year. This season’s Nations League awarded Concacaf’s top four teams a bye to a two-game quarterfinal, where each would meet a survivor from League A’s group stage. Ranked third by Concacaf, the USA faced Jamaica in November 2024, winning the first leg in Kingston, 1-0, before sealing its place in this month’s final four with a 4-2 triumph in St. Louis, Mo.

Overall, the USA is 15W-2L-1D all-time in CNL play. It has never faced Panama in the competition.

This month’s matches will afford U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino his first opportunity to lift a trophy, but he took over just last September. Pochettino’s managerial honors list includes the 2021-22 Ligue 1 title, the 2020-21 Coupe de France and the 2020 Trophée des Champions (the French Super Cup), all won with Paris Saint-Germain. He also earned a silver medal with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League.

The USA’s previous CNL titles were claimed under Gregg Berhalter (2021 and 2024) and BJ Callaghan (2023).

LAST TIME OUT

The USMNT kicked off 2025 with January camp wins over Venezuela and Costa Rica. Played outside FIFA’s international windows, the traditional winter friendlies gave head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff a chance to look at a cohort of younger players, as well as a few veterans navigating their MLS offseason.

On Jan. 18, the USA defeated Venezuela, 3-1, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, with goals by Jack McGlynn, Patrick Agyemang and Matko Miljevic. Four days later, the Americans blanked Costa Rica, 3-0, in Orlando, Fla. Agyemang, Brian White and Caden Clark scored.

Agyemang, McGlynn, White, goalkeepers Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen, defenders Max Arfsten and Tim Ream, and midfielders Brian Gutiérrez and Diego Luna parlayed strong January performances into Nations League call-ups.

It’s been four months since Pochettino had access to his full player pool. Last November, the USA defeated Jamaica, 1-0 and then 4-2, in a two-game, home-and-away Nations League quarterfinal series. Ricardo Pepi scored in both matches, while Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah also found the net during the second leg in St. Louis, Mo.

The USA is 2W-0L-0D in 2025 and is currently ranked 16th in the world (and first in Concacaf) by FIFA. The record under Pochettino is 5W-1L-0D.

AGAINST PANAMA

The USA’s dominant 18W-3L-7D margin in the all-time series against Panama belies the number of close calls and setbacks in recent years. The Americans triumphed in a pair of Gold Cup Finals between the sides (2005 and 2013) and won 12 of the first 15 meetings. But since a 1-1 draw during the group stage of the 2015 Gold Cup, the Americans’ have won just six of 13 (6W-2L-5D).

Panama outlasted the Americans on penalties in the bronze medal match later in that 2015 Gold Cup and then won from the spot again in the 2023 Gold Cup semis. The rivals split their two 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but Panama delivered a big blow to the USMNT with a 2-1 group-stage win at the 2024 Copa América. That defeat helped knock the host Americans from the prestigious tournament, and that elimination led to the departure of then-coach Gregg Berhalter.

His replacement, Mauricio Pochettino, then won his USMNT debut, a 2-0 friendly decision over Panama last Oct. 12 in Austin, Texas. Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi bagged the goals that night. It was the most recent meeting between the sides.

In official competition over the past decade, the USA is 3W-2L-5D against the improving Panamanians. They have yet to meet in CNL play.

Thursday’s match will be the USA’s 28th against Panama since 2004. Only Mexico (30) has been a more frequent opponent during that span.

THE USMNT IN LOS ANGELES

Although Thursday’s match will be the USMNT’s first at SoFi Stadium, no city/metro area has played host to the American men more frequently than Los Angeles.

The USA has played at nine different venues throughout Los Angeles County, from a 1958 World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach (a 7-2 loss) to a 2023 friendly against Serbia at Los Angeles FC’s BMO Stadium (a 2-1 defeat). There have been 21 games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 17 at the Rose Bowl (including two during the 1994 World Cup) and 19 at the LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

Overall, the USMNT’s record in metro LA is 34W-19L-14D. It has lifted two major trophies there, winning the 1991 Concacaf Gold Cup at the Coliseum (on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Honduras) and the 2002 Gold Cup at the Rose Bowl (2-0 over Costa Rica). The USA has also played at four different stadiums in nearby Orange County, including eight matches at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif. from 1993 through 2005.

SoFi Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, was the site of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Final (which Panama lost to Mexico) and two games during the 2024 Copa América. It will host 2025 Gold Cup games as well, and then eight matches during the 2026 World Cup, including two USMNT group-stage contests and a quarterfinal.

ROSTER NOTES

Defender Max Arfsten, midfielder Brian Gutiérrez and forward Jack McGlynn were added to the roster on March 18. They replaced Antonee Robinson, Johnny Cardoso and Auston Trusty, who were withdrawn with injuries.

The 23-man squad features players representing clubs from eight different countries: USA (8), England (4), Italy (4), France (2), Germany (2), Belgium (1), Canada (1) and Scotland (1).

The roster features five men who played a part on all three previous CNL championship teams: Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah.

Weston McKennie was named MVP of the 2019-21 CNL tournament after notching a hat trick against Cuba in the group stage and then the 82nd-minute equalizer in the 3-2, extra-time win over Mexico in the final.

Christian Pulisic was named MVP of the 2022-23 CNL tournament after scoring once during the group stage and then twice in the 3-0 semifinal win over Mexico.

Gio Reyna was named MVP of the 2023-24 CNL tournament. He scored once during the two-leg quarterfinal against Trinidad & Tobago and then again in the 2-0 trophy-clinching defeat of Mexico. This is Reyna’s first USMNT camp under Mauricio Pochettino.

Matt Turner was named Best Goalkeeper of both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 CNL tournaments. He shut out Mexico and Canada in the 2023 CNL Finals and then yielded just one goal in the 2024 CNL Finals, which included a 2-0 win over Mexico in the decider.

Several members of the current roster have been named to past CNL All-Tournament Teams. In 2021: Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna. In 2023: Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards and Matt Turner. In 2024: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Matt Turner.

Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic each have scored a USMNT-leading six Nations League goals. Other members of the roster who’ve scored in the competition are Gio Reyna (3), Josh Sargent (3), Tyler Adams (1), Chris Richards (1) and Tim Weah (1). McKennie leads all USMNT players with 16 CNL appearances.

With 32 USMNT goals, Christian Pulisic is fifth on the program’s all-time scoring list and just two goals behind National Soccer Hall of Fame forward Eric Wynalda (34). Pulisic led the USMNT in both goals (four) and assists (three) in 2024.

With his next appearance, Matt Turner will become the sixth USMNT goalkeeper to reach 50 caps.

Tyler Adams is back with the national team for the first time since the 2024 Copa América. The 26-year-old midfielder was named Bournemouth’s February 2025 player of the month.

Josh Sargent entered camp having scored eight goals in his past 10 matches for Norwich City. He was named the club’s player of the month for February. Sargent last scored for the USMNT on Nov. 20, 2019, when he tallied a pair in a 4-0 CNL group stage win over Cuba.

Seventeen players are products of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, with 12 produced by MLS academies: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Max Arfsten (California Odyssey), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Diego Luna (San Jose Earthquakes, Barca Academy), Jack McGlynn (BW Gottschee, Philadelphia Union), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics), Gio Reyna (New York City FC), Chris Richards (FC Dallas), Josh Sargent (St. Louis-Scott Gallagher), Joe Scally (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Saint Louis FC), Zach Steffen (FC DELCO, Philadelphia Union), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas), Tim Weah (New York Red Bulls), Brian White (Players Development Academy).

USA-PANAMA NOTES

Christian Pulisic leads all USMNT players with four career goals against Panama. He struck in an October 6, 2017, World Cup qualifier in Orlando, Fla. (a 4-0 win) and then notched a hat trick in a 5-1 qualifying win on March 27, 2022, also in Orlando.

Four former USMNT players scored four career goals against Panama: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson.

Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna are the other members of the CNL squad with goals against Panama. Musah scored the first (and still only) goal of his international career in the 2-0 friendly win on Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas (coach Mauricio Pochettino’s debut). Reyna also netted his first USMNT goal against Panama. It came during the November 2020 friendly in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, a 6-2 USA win.

Nine of the 11 men who started the 2024 Copa América loss to Panama are in camp: Matt Turner, Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic. The missing two are Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Josh Sargent entered that match in Atlanta as substitutes.

PANAMA OF LATE

Panama is currently ranked 36th in the world by FIFA, which puts it fourth in Concacaf behind the USA (16), Mexico (19) and Canada (31).

Panama had a busy 2024. Its run to the Copa América quarters followed its entry into Concacaf’s 2026 World Cup qualifying competition, and it began and ended the year with Nations League knockout matches. Overall, Panamawent 5W-7L-1D in 2024. It then kicked off 2025 with an unofficial hybrid game against Peruvian club Universitario, followed by a 6-1 friendly loss at Chile on Feb. 8.

Its most impressive recent result was the 1-0 win over Costa Rica in the Nations League quarterfinals on Nov. 14, 2024. The USMNT has never beaten Los Ticos on home turf, but Panama’s triumph that night at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose -- secured with a second-half penalty by José Fajardo -- wound up providing the one-goal margin it needed to eventually win the two-leg series (it also snapped a three-game losing streak). The 3-2 aggregate victory was sealed with a 2-2 home draw four days later, sending Panama to this week’s CNL Finals.

On Feb. 8 in Santiago, Panama then fell by five goals to Chile. That 6-1 setback in Santiago was contested outside a FIFA international window, and Panama fielded a starting XI that included only two men who made the current Nations League roster.

Fajardo, who played briefly for D.C. United in 2023, is Panama’s leading active goal scorer with 15. He’s tied for ninth all-time with the retired Roberto Brown, whose career included stints with the Colorado Rapids and CF Montréal.

Panama will have to navigate two key absences. Former New York Red Bulls and current Olympique Marseille defender Michael Murillo will miss this month’s matches with a hamstring issue, while Mazatlán winger Édgar Yoel Bárcenas is out with a long-term knee injury.

AT THE HELM

Volatility has been a recent trend in Concacaf, but Panama has enjoyed relative stability with Danish manager Thomas Christiansen, who was hired in July 2020. He’s the only head coach remaining from Concacaf’s eight-team World Cup qualifying competition contested in 2021-22. The other three 2025 Nations League semifinalists—USA, Canada and Mexico —have had a combined 12 different men manage matches since Christiansen was hired.

Christiansen, 52, has led Panama to a 32W-21L-14D overall record. Highlights include a silver medal at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and a spot in the 2024 Copa América quarterfinals.

His record against the USMNT is 2W-3L-1D overall and 2W-1L-1D in official competition.

Christiansen’s 15-year playing career included stops at clubs in Spain, Greece, Denmark and Germany, where he was a teammate of National Soccer Hall of Fame defender Steve Cherundolo at Hannover 96. Although raised in Denmark, the striker was eligible to play for Spain through his mother and earned two caps with La Roja in 1993, scoring once.

Christiansen then went into coaching and was the head coach at AEK Larnaca and APOEL in Cyprus, Leeds United and Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise before joining up with Panama. He won a Cypriot First Division championship with APOEL in 2017.

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

GOALKEEPERS (3): Luis Mejía (Nacional/URU; 53/0), Orlando Mosquera (Al Fahya/KSA; 32/0), César Samudio (Marathón/HON; 4/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Iván Anderson (Marathón/HON; 12/1), César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava/ SVK; 28/2), José Córdoba (Norwich City/ENG; 21/0), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa/CRC; 84/3), Edgardo Fariña (Khimki/RUS; 10/0), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United/USA; 11/1), Martín Krug (Atlético Levante/ESP; 1/0), Jorge Gutiérrez (Deportivo La Guaira/VEN; 3/0), Omar Valencia (New York Red Bulls/USA; 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Adalberto Carrasquilla (UNAM Pumas/MEX; 62/2), Edward Cedeño (Tarazona/ESP; 0/0), Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC/USA; 143/4), Cristian Martínez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona/ISR; 49/1), Janpol Morales (Macará/ECU; 1/0), José Luis Rodríguez (Juárez/MEX; 53/7)

FORWARDS (5): Ismael Díaz (Universidad Católica/ECU; 42/9), José Fajardo (Universidad Católica/ECU; 55/15), Gustavo Herrera (Puebla/MEX; 1/0), Tomás Rodríguez (Monagas/VEN; 4/0), Cecilio Waterman (Coquimbo Unido/CHI; 41/11)