CHICAGO (March 23, 2025) — The U.S. Men’s National Team’s final run of competitive matches before next year’s World Cup continues Sunday in Los Angeles, where it will play Canada for third place in the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League. This month’s Nations League final four and then this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup—the regional championship— represent the USA’s last shots at tournament play before it welcomes the world in 2026.
Sunday’s bronze medal game at SoFi Stadium, a 70,240-seat venue that opened in 2020, kicks off at 6 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast by Paramount+ and Univision, and fans can also follow the game via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer app.
The Americans will look to rebound from a dramatic 1-0 loss to Panama in last Thursday’s Nations League semifinal, while Canada hopes to recover from a 2-0 setback to Mexico. The winner will secure bronze, deliver the latest blow in an escalating North American rivalry and re-capture some momentum heading toward the Gold Cup.
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; 50/0)
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; 18/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 68/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 24/1), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 20/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 43/2), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire; 2/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 59/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 7/0)
FORWARDS (7): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 3/2), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 4/1) Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 46/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 77/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 28/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 43/7), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 3/1)
PLAYING FOR BRONZE
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 with promotion and relegation. A single-elimination final four then determines the CNL champion.
The USA captured each of the first three editions, which concluded in 2021, 2023 and 2024. The Americans defeated Mexico, 3-2, in extra time in an epic 2021 final in Denver. That memorable match—punctuated by Weston McKennie’s late equalizer and then Christian Pulisic’s penalty clincher—helped the CNL establish traction as Concacaf’s second international event.
The Americans maintained their dominance as the CNL format evolved, beating Canada, 2-0, in the 2023 decider and then Mexico, again, by the famously familiar Dos A Cero scoreline last year.
The USMNT qualified for this month’s CNL final four after receiving a bye to last November’s quarterfinals and then defeating Jamaica, 1-0 and 4-2, in the two-leg series. But the bid for a fourth straight title was derailed last Thursday when Panama prevailed, 1-0, in the semifinals.
The USA is 15W-3L-1D all-time in CNL play. It is 2W-1L-0D in the competition against Canada.
That semifinal setback against Panama leaves the USA to play for bronze on Sunday at SoFi in what will be the eighth third-place playoff in program history. In its seven previous such outings across the FIFA Confederations Cup, Copa América and the Concacaf Gold Cup, the USMNT has claimed bronze four times.
In 1992, the USA faced Ivory Coast in the third-place game of the inaugural Confederations Cup, which was a four-team event in Saudi Arabia. The Americans dropped their semifinal to the hosts, but rebounded to defeat Les Éléphants, 5-2, with goals by Bruce Murray (2), Marcelo Balboa, Cobi Jones and Eric Wynalda. The USMNT won a second Confederations Cup bronze medal in 1999, falling to host Mexico in a golden goal semifinal before beating the Saudis, 2-0, in Guadalajara. Paul Bravo and Brian McBride scored.
Copa América bronze has proved elusive. The USA’s magical run to the 1995 final four in Uruguay, which included a group-stage victory over Argentina, ended with a semifinal loss to Brazil and then a 4-1 rout by Colombia in the third-place game. Joe-Max Moore scored the only U.S. goal. The USA and Colombia met again in the bronze medal match of the 2016 Copa América Centenario in Glendale, Ariz. This time Los Cafeteros prevailed, 1-0.
The USA has won two of the three third-place games it has contested at the Gold Cup, which discontinued the match after 2015. The Americans defeated Guatemala, 3-0, in 1996 with goals by Wynalda, Jeff Agoos and Jovan Kirovski, and outlasted Costa Rica, 3-2, in 2003 on goals by Carlos Bocanegra, Earnie Stewart and Bobby Convey. Panama claimed bronze in 2015, however, beating the Americans from the penalty spot in Chester, Penn. after a 1-1 draw (Clint Dempsey had the goal).
Of course, the USA’s most historic bronze medal was won without a playoff. The Americans reached the semifinals at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay and then was awarded third place over the other losing semifinalist, Yugoslavia. Each finished W2-1L-0D, but the USA’s +1 goal differential proved the difference.
LAST TIME OUT
The USA lost a CNL game on home soil for the first time last Thursday as Panama struck in the 94th minute to end the Americans’ quest for a fourth straight crown. Substitute forward Cecilio Waterman’s game-winner was Panama’s only shot on target.
The USA outshot Panama, 12-3, and earned nine corner kicks to Los Canaleros’ three. A Josh Sargent shot hit a defender and then the post in the 19th minute, and he saw a potential goal ruled out for offside five minutes later. Weston McKennie forced two alert saves from Panama’s Orlando Mosquera, and substitute striker Patrick Agyemang nearly scored off a McKennie through ball in the 82nd.
But Waterman’s last-gasp bid, a perfectly-placed roller that beat Matt Turner across the face of goal and inside the left post, was the only breakthrough.
The USA fell to 2W-1L-0D in 2025 and to 5W-2L-0D under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
AGAINST CANADA
The North American neighbors are in the midst of a unique and intriguing era in their soccer history: they’re relevant and contending at the same time. The USA holds a 17W-11L-13D advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1925.
After the start of the USMNT’s “modern era”, which began with its qualification to the 1990 World Cup, the Americans went unbeaten in 15 games against Canada from 1991 through 2016 (9W-0L-6D).
Canada then turned the corner and since 2019, the rivalry has taken flight. The series has been even at 3-3-2 during that span, with seven of eight matches coming in official competition.
The countries split a pair of CNL group stage games in 2019: Canada won, 2-0, in Toronto and the USA exacted revenge, 4-1, in Orlando.
The USA won in the 2021 Gold Cup group stage and the 2023 Gold Cup quarters (on penalties), and beat the Canadians, 2-0, in the 2023 CNL Final in Las Vegas on goals by Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun.
Canada had the better 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, however, earning a draw in Nashville, Tenn., winning in Hamilton, Ont. and finishing above their southern rival in the final standings.
The most recent meeting between the sides was a Sept. 7, 2024 friendly in Kansas City, Kan., where goals from Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan David staked Canada to a 2-0 lead before Luca de la Torre notched his first USMNT goal to bring the hosts to within one. Canada held on for the 2-1 win as the USA played under interim manager Mikey Varas
Canada hasn’t beaten the USA in consecutive matches since it won an April 1985 friendly in Vancouver, 2-0. That followed a 2-1 World Cup qualifying/Concacaf Championship victory in November 1980.
The USA is 14W-2L-11D against Canada on home soil.
THE USMNT IN LOS ANGELES
Although Sunday’s match will mark just the second USMNT appearance at SoFi Stadium (the Panama loss was the first), 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-20L-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 in a preview of Sunday’s CNL Final) 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. Agyemang and McGlynn made their official competition debuts when they entered Thursday’s semifinal as second half substitutes.
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), 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 17 CNL appearances.
With his next appearance, Weston McKennie will become the 48th USMNT player to reach 60 caps, and just the third who’s active (Christian Pulisic has 77 and Tim Ream is on 68).
With 32 career 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.
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-CANADA NOTES
Defender Chris Richards is the only player on the USMNT’s CNL roster who has scored against Canada. He notched the opener in the 2023 CNL Final won by the Americans, 2-0, in Las Vegas.
Canada’s squad features four men who’ve found the U.S. net a combined six times: Cyle Larin (two), Jacob Shaffelburg (two), Alphonso Davies (one) and Jonathan David (one).
Nashville SC’s Shaffelburg scored in each of his past two matches against the USA, the 2-2 Gold Cup quarterfinal in 2023 (the Americans won on penalties) and last September’s 2-1 friendly win in Kansas City, Kan.
Seven men who started the 2023 CNL Final against Canada on June 18, 2023 in Las Vegas are in camp: Matt Turner, Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic (none of the substitutes that day are in camp).
Six men who started the 2-1 friendly loss on Sept. 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Kan. are in camp: Patrick Schulte, Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic (none of the substitutes that day are in camp).
CANADA OF LATE
Canada is playing for CNL bronze after losing to Mexico, 2-0, in Thursday’s second semifinal at SoFi. The Canadians outshot El Tri, 11-8, and had the majority of possession, but put just one effort on target and succumbed to a brace from Mexico marksman Raúl Jiménez. The Fulham forward opened the scoring after just 49 seconds and then put Canada away with a brilliant free kick in the 75th minute.
Defeat in its first game of 2025 snapped an unbeaten 4W-0L-2D run dating back to last summer’s Copa América semifinal loss to Argentina. Canada fell on penalties to Uruguay in the Copa’s third-place game, then sandwiched friendly wins over the USA and Panama around a 0-0 draw with Mexico.
Canada booked its place in this month’s CNL final four with a 4-0 aggregate win over Suriname in the two-leg quarterfinal last November. Canada took the opener, 1-0, in Suriname on a goal by Junior Hoilett, then eased past Suriname in Toronto, 3-0, thanks to markers from Jonathan David and Jacob Shaffelburg (two).
Like the USA, Canada has qualified automatically for the 2026 World Cup as a co-host. It went 6W-3L-5D last year but scored just 14 goals. David and Shaffelburg led the team with five apiece.
Canada is currently ranked 31st by FIFA, which is good for third in Concacaf behind the USA (16th) and Mexico (19th). It kicked off 2024 ranked 50th.
AT THE HELM
Jesse Marsch’s hiring as Canada’s head coach in May 2024 added a fascinating wrinkle to the rivalry. The Wisconsin native played twice for the USMNT and enjoyed a 14-year MLS career, during which the midfielder won a combined three MLS Cups and four U.S. Open Cups with D.C. United and the Chicago Fire.
Marsch then went into coaching, serving as Bob Bradley’s assistant with the USA during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. After a short stint in charge at CF Montréal, Marsch guided the New York Red Bulls to MLS regular season titles in 2015 and 2018. He then ventured to Europe. Staying within the Red Bull system, Marsch won two Austrian Bundesliga championships in Salzburg and then moved on to the organization’s crown jewel in Leipzig, Germany, where he went 8W-9L-4D with the Bundesliga contender before they parted ways in December 2021.
Less than three months later, Marsch was coaching in England’s Premier League, hired by Leeds United to succeed the legendary Marcelo Bielsa. Marsch became just the second U.S.-born coach to take over an EPL side, joining his mentor, Bradley (Swansea City). Marsch and Leeds went 4W-5L-3D in the spring of 2022 and escaped relegation by three points. But after a 4W-10L-6D start to the subsequent Premier League campaign, Marsch was dismissed in February 2023.
Marsch re-entered management last May when he was appointed by Canada, and his 5W-4L-5D record includes a run to the 2024 Copa América semis and a friendly 2-1 win over his homeland on Sept. 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Kan.
Marsch added his name to the small list of U.S.-born coaches who’ve managed a foreign senior men’s national team. Among those who’ve done it are Bradley (Egypt, 2011-13), former USMNT coach Steve Sampson (Costa Rica, 2002- 04), Jack Stefanowski (Nepal, 2013-15), Ian Mork (Belize, several stints in 2009-14) and Bill Moravek (British Virgin Islands, 2000-01).
CANADA ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (3):Maxime Crépeau (Portland Timbers/USA; 24/0), Tom McGill (Brighton & Hove Albion/ENG; 0/0), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United/USA; 10/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City/USA; 2/0), Moïse Bombito (Nice/FRA; 18/0), Derek Cornelius (Olympique Marseille/FRA; 30/0), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich/GER; 57/15), Alistair Johnson (Celtic/SCO; 52/1), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Crewe Alexandra/ENG; 1/0), Joel Waterman (CF Montréal; 6/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps; 13/0), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal/ESP; 44/4), Mathieu Choinière (Grasshopper Club/SUI; 11/0), Stephen Eustáquio (Porto/POR; 48/4), Ismaël Koné (Rennes/FRA; 27/3), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC; 83/9), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville SC/USA; 21/6), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split/CRO; 2/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jonathan David (Lille/FRA; 60/31), Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL; 0/0), Daniel Jebbison (Bournemouth/ENG; 1/0), Cyle Larin (Mallorca/ESP; 79/30), Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United/USA; 10/0)
