USA will play for the first time since their CONCACAF Gold Cup exit in July on Saturday, when they meet Uzbekistan in an international friendly in Missouri.

The Stars and Stripes will play four friendlies before entering the CONCACAF Nations League late this year, while their visitors begin World Cup qualifying in mid-November.

Match preview

USA return to action on Saturday following a busy schedule in the first half of 2023, after reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup late last year and dropping out at the hands of the Netherlands in the round of 16.

They would play in a trio of friendlies before entering the CONCACAF Gold Cup and advancing through the group stage in first place, having drawn with Jamaica in the curtain-raiser before dishing out 6-0 thrashings to Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, with Jesus Ferreira starring with a hat-trick in each triumph.

That set up a quarter-final tie with Canada, and after the tie looked set to end goalless in 90 minutes, they eventually went ahead through Brandon Vazquez only to be pegged back by a Steven Vitoria equaliser in injury time.

Gregg Berhalter's team would then fall behind in extra time, following Jacob Shaffelburg's goal, but they drew level again through a Scott Kennedy own goal and prevailed on a penalty shootout, only to fall short in their second straight shootout against Panama in the semi-final, after drawing 1-1 in 120 minutes with Ferreira netting their leveller.

On the back of that disappointing exit, USA will now look to quickly get back to winning ways in Missouri, with four friendlies scheduled before they enter the CONCACAF Nations League at the quarter-final stage in November.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, make the trip with the aim of building towards their opening World Cup qualifiers, having most recently been in international action in June in the CAFA Nations Cup.

After a positive end to 2022, including a successful AFC Asian Cup Qualifying campaign, they played for the first time in 2023 in a pair of friendlies against South American opposition in late March, beating Bolivia 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Venezuela before entering the CAFA Nations Cup.

The White Wolves cruised through the group stage of that competition with a perfect record, beating Oman, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, scoring 10 goals and only conceding once along the way, before falling just short in the final in a 1-0 defeat to Iran, as Sardar Azmoun netted the only goal of the game.

Now with four friendlies scheduled before entering Asian World Cup Qualifying later this year, Uzbekistan, who have now suffered just that single narrow defeat in their last eight games in all competitions, will aim to build on the positive mood in the camp under the management of Srecko Katanec and make what would be an impressive return to winning ways in the USA.

Team News

Gregg Berhalter has called up a strong USA squad for their upcoming friendlies, albeit with the majority of their MLS stars staying with their club side, meaning the likes of DeAndre Yedlin, Aaron Long, Matt Miazga, Cristian Roldan, Kellyn Acosta and Jesus Ferreira will all not turn out for the Stars and Stripes, while midfielder Tyler Adams misses out through injury.

There are still plenty of stars available, though, and Christian Pulisic is bound to star in attack, having netted 25 goals in his 60 international caps thus far, while Folarin Balogun could lead the line in his third appearance for USMNT, after moving from Arsenal to Monaco over the summer.

Elsewhere, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah will play key roles in midfield, while in the absence of the likes of Miazga and Walker Zimmermann, Fulham's Tim Ream and Crystal Palace's Chris Richards could partner up in the middle of a back four, flanked by Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson.

Uzbekistan also have a squad with plenty of international experience, and their attack will be spearheaded by Cagliari's Eldor Shomurodov, who tops his nation's all-time scoring charts with 37 goals in 66 caps.

He will likely be flanked by Jaloliddin Masharipov and Jamshid Iskanderov in a 3-4-3 shape, with the former boasting 10 international goals of his own.

Otabek Shukurov and Azizjon Ganiev could again partner up in the engine room, while Husniddin Aliqulov, Umar Eshmurodov and Abdulla Abdullayev will likely form the back three.

USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Dest, Ream, Richards, Robinson; Musah, McKennie, De La Torre; Pulisic, Balogun, Weah

Uzbekistan possible starting lineup:
Yusupov; Aliqulov, Eshmurodov, Abdullayev; Alijonov, Shukurov, Ganiev, Sayfiev; Masharipov, Shomurodov, Iskanderov

We say: USA 3-1 Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan do have quality throughout the pitch and should not be taken lightly, but USA will expect to pick up a relatively comfortable victory on home soil and we see them having too much for the White Wolves.


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