CHICAGO (June 8, 2019) – In its first visit to Cincinnati, the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Venezuela in its final warmup match for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday, June 9. Coverage from Nippert Stadium begins at 2 p.m. ET and the match will be broadcast live on FOX and UniMas.
Fans can also follow along via U.S. Soccer’s official Facebook, Twitter (@USMNT) and Instagram (@USMNT) accounts.
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 7/0), 22-Tyler Miller (LAFC; 0/0), 1-Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 9/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 14-Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 10/1), 3-Omar Gonzalez (Toronto FC/CAN; 50/3), 2-Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), 23-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 5/0), 16-Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 4/0), 19-Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 13/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 29/1), 5-Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 6/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 145/17), 20-Duane Holmes (Derby County/ENG; 1/0), 8-Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 8/1), 10-Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 25/10), 15-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 10/0), 6-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 16/0)
FORWARDS (6): 17-Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 110/41), 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 22/3), 21-Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimãres/POR; 0/0), 18-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 4/0), 11-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 27/5), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 44/7)
Just hours after Wednesday’s match against Jamaica, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter submitted to Concacaf the final 23-player roster for the 2019 Gold Cup.
With an average age of 25 years, 150 days and 24 caps, the squad is a mix of veterans and promising young talent as the United States will pursue its seventh confederation championship title.
Making his fifth appearance at the Concacaf Gold Cup, midfielder Michael Bradley leads a list of 10 players that have previous experience in the tournament. Bradley is followed by Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez, who each make their fourth Gold Cup rosters, while three other players get their third. In total, nine players return from the team that won the tournament in 2017.
On the flip side, there are 13 players who are making their Gold Cup debut, and 12 with their first shot in an official competition at the senior team level. Christian Pulisic – who played in the 2016 Copa America Centenario – is also a Gold Cup debutant. Five players on the roster – Adams, Boyd, Pulisic, Steffen and Trapp – have participated in a Youth World Cup.
This week’s camp marks veteran striker Jozy Altidore’s first with the National Team since 2017.
Having debuted for the USMNT as a 17-year-old back in 2007, the Toronto FC forward’s international accomplishments are many. He’s one of 17 players to reach 100 caps and was the second youngest in team history to do it (he now has 110). Meanwhile, his 41 goals already rank third all-time, with only joint leaders Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan to catch up to at 57.
A veteran of six international tournaments, Altidore was vital in the USA’s run to the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, scoring in both the 2-0 semifinal win against Costa Rica and 2-1 victory against Jamaica in the final.
After midfielder Duane Holmes made his debut against Jamaica on Wednesday night, there are still two more possible USMNT first caps for USA-Venezuela: winger Tyler Boyd and goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
Previously a New Zealand international, Boyd became eligible for the United States two weeks ago when his Change of Association request was granted by FIFA. With a Kiwi father and American mother, the 24-year-old was born in New Zealand, but the family moved back to the U.S. shortly after, settling in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Meanwhile, Tyler Miller is in the midst of his second USMNT summons after being involved in this year’s January Camp.
Sunday’s match is the sixth between the nations since their first meeting at the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador – a 3-3 draw.
The USA holds an unbeaten 3-0-2 record in five matches against La Vinotinto.
In the last meeting, Christian Pulisic scored as the USA played to a 1-1 draw with Venezuela on June 3, 2017 in Sandy, Utah. Michael Bradley and Tim Ream also played in the match.
Nine of the 10 players with previous Gold Cup experience were part of the 2017 championship squad: Bradley (4 tournaments), Altidore (3), Gonzalez, Johnson, Zardes (2 each); Arriola, Miazga, Morris and Roldan (1 each)
Tim Ream has also taken part in two previous Gold Cups (2011, 2015).
Thirteen players will take part in their first Concacaf Gold Cup: Adams, Boyd, Holmes, Lewis, Miller, Lima, Long, Lovitz, McKennie, Pulisic, Steffen, Trapp and Zimmerman.
Pulisic is the only Gold Cup debutant to take part in a previous international tournament with the USMNT, playing in the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Five players combined for 14 goals scored in prior Gold Cups: Altidore (4), Bradley, Gonzalez and Morris (3 each), and Zardes (1).
As of the USA’s tournament opener on June 18, the roster will hold an average age of 25 years, 150 days to go along with an average of 24 caps.
With 145 caps, Michael Bradley is the senior-most player on the roster, followed by Jozy Altidore (110), Omar Gonzalez (50), Gyasi Zardes (44) and Tim Ream (29).
On the flip side, 13 players have 10 or less caps.
Two players on the roster are uncapped: winger Tyler Boyd and goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
The roster features 16 players tied to 10 different MLS clubs.
Seven players are tied to clubs in England (4), Germany (2) and Portugal (1)
After finishing second in the Bundesliga with Dortmund, Pulisic moves to newly crowned Europa League champions Chelsea following the Gold Cup
Meantime, Adams earned a regular starting role with third-place finishers Red Bull Leipzig after joining the club in the January transfer window
Zack Steffen officially said goodbye to Columbus Crew SC, having been signed by Premier League champion Manchester City this past winter and remaining with the Crew until the summer.
The Budweiser Man of the Match against Jamaica, veteran defender Omar Gonzalez has won championships at every level since college and is the only U.S. player to have won the MLS Cup, Liga MX and Concacaf Champions League. Gonzalez’s three international goals have all come at the Gold Cup.
Jordan Morris returns to the Gold Cup for the second straight tournament, having scored the game-winning goal in the 2017 final against Jamaica.
The 2018 MLS Defender of the Year, Aaron Long gets his first crack at official competition.
Daniel Lovitz becomes the first Montreal Impact player to represent the United States in the Gold Cup
After making his international debut against Jamaica, Derby County midfielder Duane Holmes is representing the United States for the first time at any level. The 24-year-old is a dual citizen, the son of an American serviceman and an English mother
Tyler Boyd recently received approval from FIFA for a one-time change of association, the winger having represented New Zealand in official competition at the youth international level. Boyd tallied six goals in 14 appearances while on loan to Turkish side Ankaragucu.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Wuiker Fariñez (Millonarios/COL), Joel Graterol (Zamora), Rafael Romo (APOEL/CYP)
DEFENDERS (7): Jhon Chancellor (Al-Ahli/QAT), Rolf Fletscher (LA Galaxy/USA), Ronald Hernández (Stabæk/NOR), Luis Mago (Palestino/CHI), Yordan Osorio (Vitoria Guimãres/POR), Roberto Rosales (Espanyol/ESP), Mikel Villanueva (Gimnàstic/ESP)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Juan Pablo Añor (Huesca/ESP), Arquímedes Figuera (Deportiva La Guaira), Yangel Herrera (Huesca/ESP), Darwin Machís (Cádiz/ESP), Júnior Moreno (D.C. United/USA), Jhon Murillo (Tondela/POR), Adalberto Peñaranda (Watford/ENG), Tomás Rincón (Torino/ITA), Jefferson Savarino (Real Salt Lake/USA), Luis Manuel Seijas (Santa Fe/COL),
FORWARDS (3): Fernando Aristeguieta (América de Cali/COL), Josef Martínez (Atlanta United FC/USA), Salomón Rondón (Newcastle United/ENG)
Venezuela is currently ranked 29th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings
La Vinotintoare coached by Rafael Dudamel. The former goalkeeper made 56 appearances and scored one goal for Venezuela from 1993-2004.
Atlanta United FC striker Josef Martinez leads a quartet of Venezuela players that feature in Major League Soccer. The others: defender Rolf Fletscher (LA Galaxy), and midfielders Jùnior Moreno (D.C. United) and Jefferson Savarino (Real Salt Lake).
The match serves as Venezuela’s last before taking part in Copa America 2019, where they will face Peru, hosts Brazil and Bolivia in the group stage.
