The United States men’s national team meets Colombia on Saturday in a friendly that could mean much more to Gregg Berhalter and his squad than most warm-up games.
Yes, of course the match at Commanders Field in Maryland is preparation for a crucial Copa America on home soil, but it is also an increasingly rare opportunity for Berhalter to add a win over a top international team after FIFA’s opponent-restriction situation. switch to the Nations League calendar.
STREAM USMNT vs. COLOMBIA AND ESPANOL ON PEACOCK PREMIUM
It helps that Colombia have been fantastic in recent times, undefeated since 2022 with wins over Brazil, Germany, Spain and Mexico. Only Brazil’s defeat in November was on home soil.
Yes, Los Cafeteros have recorded 16 wins and five draws since the home loss to Argentina that started in February 2022, a period of 23 matches including a 0-0 draw outside the window with the USMNT to kick off 2023.
[ MORE: Copa America 2024 schedule, how to watch, dates ]
The Yanks, for their part, have done well against good opposition in three of their last four opportunities. They defeated Mexico 2-0, Jamaica 3-1 and Ghana 4-0, with a humbling 3-1 home loss to Germany.
The USMNT are expected to beat Bolivia and Panama in the Copa America group stage, and will likely be heavy underdogs against Uruguay and whoever they face in the knockout rounds (likely Brazil, who are a friendly on Wednesday). Any win in any of those four tests of CONMEBOL powers will stand out this summer, even in one of these friendlies.
Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for the US
How to watch USMNT vs Colombia, stream link and start time
Kick-off: 5:30 PM ET, Saturday (June 9)
Stadium: Commander’s Field in Landover, Maryland
TV channels en Español: Universo, Telemundo
Streaming in Spanish: Peacock
USMNT vs Colombia live updates – by Nick Mendola
USMNT vs Colombia live score: 0-1
Goalscorers: Arias (6′)
Not a good start! Arias scores — USMNT 0-1 Colombia (6th minute)
Antonee Robinson slides to break a Colombian entry into the 18 but Jhon Arias is there and smashes past Matt Turner at the top of the post.
Los Cafeteros, 1-0.
USMNT lineup
Turner, Robinson, Richards, Ream, Scally, Cardoso, McKennie, Reyna, Weah, Pulisic, Balogun
Colombian setup
Vargas, Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica, Lerma, Uribe, Arias, James Rodriguez, Diaz, Borre
USMNT vs Colombia Preview: Focus on Colombia, Team News
This team is Good. Ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings (the USMNT is 11th) and 7th in the ELO ratings (USA 22nd), the undefeated streak is no joke and includes 13 clean sheets.
All-time caps leader David Ospina is at the back and the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper has a great group of backs in front of him. There is Spurs’ Davinson Sanchez, as well as Yerry Mina, Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace) and young Yerson Mosquera.
James Rodriguez – somehow still only 32 – captains the midfield with Palace’s Jefferson Lerma, and the depth there is nothing special. It is corrected in attack, where Liverpool star Luis Diaz is joined by Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra and Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
