Following a successful group stage run in the Concacaf Gold Cup, the U.S. Men`s National Team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, is heading into the knockout rounds. Their aim is to reclaim the title currently held by Mexico. They face a familiar foe, Costa Rica, with the clear objective of progressing to the semifinals to play against the winner of the Canada vs. Guatemala match.
The USMNT defense faces a test against the in-form Costa Rican forwards, Manfred Ugalde and Alonso Martinez. This challenge is welcomed by Pochettino as he evaluates players for the 2026 World Cup squad. Such matches provide crucial tests. While the U.S. attack has performed well in the tournament, the defense has shown occasional vulnerabilities. The knockout stage presents an ideal opportunity to solidify their defensive performance.
Here are details, how you can watch the match and more:
Match Details: How to Watch and Betting Odds
- Date: Sunday, June 29 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: U.S. Bank Stadium — Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TV: FOX | Live stream: Fubo
- Odds: USMNT -180; Draw +280; Costa Rica +500
Last Meeting
The teams last met in a January camp this year, where the USMNT secured a 2-0 victory against a depleted Costa Rican side. This USMNT roster features a significant MLS presence, including players like Jack McGlynn, Diego Luna, Brian White, and Patrick Agyemang who participated in that January match. Facing Costa Rica`s full-strength team now offers a valuable benchmark for Pochettino to assess their progress since the previous encounter.
Predicted Lineups
USMNT:
- Matt Freese
- Max Arfsten
- Tim Ream
- Chris Richards
- Alex Freeman
- Tyler Adams
- Luca De La Torre
- Malik Tillman
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Diego Luna
- Patrick Agyemang
Costa Rica:
- Keylor Navas
- Joseph Mora
- Francisco Calvo
- Juan Pablo Vargas
- Jeyland Mitchell
- Carlos Mora
- Josimar Alcocer
- Orlando Galo
- Brandon Aguilera
- Manfred Ugalde
- Alonso Martinez
Player to Watch
Manfred Ugalde, Costa Rica:
Manfred Ugalde, 23, is a player to keep an eye on for Costa Rica. He recently had a prolific season, scoring 17 goals for Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League, making him a subject of transfer speculation. In the Gold Cup, he has already netted three goals and provided an assist but was contained against Mexico. A strong showing against the USMNT would further boost his profile and potential for a move to a major European club. His performance will also serve as an important evaluation for the USMNT defense.
Storyline to Watch
Will off-field noise impact the game?
The ongoing transfer window is creating some buzz around the USMNT camp, with rumors linking Malik Tillman to Bayer Leverkusen, Patrick Agyemang to Derby County, and Johnny Cardoso potentially moving to Atletico Madrid. While Cardoso might be unavailable due to injury and the players claim to be focused, it`s challenging to ignore potential life-altering career moves. This potential distraction is compounded by rumors surrounding Pochettino himself, linking him to the Brentford job, which he has denied. Navigating these various pieces of `noise` requires focus. A win would help them put these distractions aside, but struggles on the pitch could amplify them.
Prediction
Costa Rica has shown improvement and is likely to score in this match. However, the USMNT`s attack has been a key highlight of the tournament. Led by the in-form Tillman, the U.S. team should score enough goals to secure their passage to the semifinals and continue their pursuit of the Gold Cup title.
Pick: USMNT 2, Costa Rica 1
