The United States men’s national team played a surprisingly compelling friendly outside the window against Venezuela on Saturday, with the MLS-heavy USMNT defeating a domestic-heavy side. Vinotinto 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Jack McGlynn and Matko Miljevic each had a goal and an assist, with the latter missing a penalty drawn by fellow goalscorer Patrick Agyemang as the USMNT’s largely capped squad impressed in Florida.
MORE – WATCH USMNT vs. Venezuela and Espanol | Upcoming USMNT schedule
The only other demerit besides Miljevic’s saved penalty was Jorge Yriarte’s goal from the bench for Venezuela, as a pair of USMNT defenders were slow to respond to his threat from a back-post corner.
The US put nine of their 13 shots on target and completed 547 passes, compared to the visitors’ 240.
Mauricio Pochettino saw 16 players and did not use Tim Ream or Walker Zimmerman. The Yanks meet Costa Rica next week in Orlando to wrap up January camp.
Three things we learned from USMNT 3-1 Venezuela
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There is flair in the American depth: Matko Miljevic has had a checkered club history, but his cool drive to start a game and achieve an even better ending was one of three very easy goals for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. Jack McGlynn’s rocket goal and Patrick Agyemang’s beast of a goal were also different things, as the Yanks showed what their so-called “B team” (or even C team) can do when given space.
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Agyemang makes his case: Folarin Balogun is the first-team striker unless Ricardo Pepi can take his place, but… Agyemang, man – The 6-foot-4 forward from Charlotte FC somehow has a Haji Wright-like appearance and is one of the most likely players to get a look at the “first team”.
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McGlynn blocks his left pin in the midfield race: He led the game through touches and created chances, but it is the left-footed hammer goal that may linger in Pochettino’s thoughts longer. As recently as July 21, the New York City-born midfielder showed the kind of special stuff it takes to have a chance to play in a midfield that already features Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso and Giovanni Reyna. It’s good to have ingredients, and Pochettino is a master chef. Yes, this wasn’t against a group of world beaters, but it also did a lot of good for the imagination.
USMNT vs Venezuela player ratings
(by fotmob.com)
McGlynn was undoubtedly the Man of the Match, so we’re not surprised to see his figures jumping off our friends’ page at Fotmob.com. He hit 86 of 89 passes and posted a game-high 104 touches, sending a whopping 20 passes into the final third.
Shaq Moore showed his passivity with a number of long balls, but it was he or Miles Robinson who gave Yriarte too much space in Venezuela’s goal.
Montreal defender George Campbell led the game in defensive plays, recoveries and clearances in his 88 minutes, trailing only Robinson and McGlynn in touches.
How to watch USMNT vs Venezuela live, stream link and start time
Kickoff time: 3:00 PM ET Saturday (January 18)
Location: Chase Stadium — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
TV channel: Universo, Telemundo
Stream: Watch live on Peacock en Espanol
USMNT vs Venezuela live score: 3-1
Jack McGlynn 37′, Patrick Agyemang 39′, Matko Miljevic 64′, Jorge Yriarte 68′
USMNT vs Venezuela Live Updates – By Nick Mendola
USMNT sub
Indiana Vassilev, the ex-Villa man, came on for Gutierrez in the 73rd minute.
Jorge Yriarte goal — USMNT 3-1 Venezuela (68th minute)
It’s off an angle and the halftime sub is unmarked as neither Shaq Moore nor Miles Robinson handles the serve.
USMNT subs
Emeka Eneli, Brian White, DeJuan Jones and Diego Luna are eligible for Arfsten, Miljevic, Agyemang and Cremaschi.
Goal Matko Miljevic — USMNT 3-0 Venezuela (64th minute)
He has covered the entire field and now he has a beautiful goal.
The man who was once ejected from CF Montreal for playing in a Quebec men’s league match fires in a scorer’s goal after leading a rush onto the field.
Two blocks
Miles Robinson makes a strong, low challenge to deny Venezuela a shot from the top of the 18, and the rebound is cleared by Moore for a corner.
Schulte catches the corner kick and the Yanks take a 2-0 lead in the 49th minute.
Venezuela subs
Jorge Yriarte and Edson Tortolero take the place of Jovanny Bolivar and Daniel Pereira at the break as Venezuelan boss Fernando Batista shakes things up in Florida.
Halftime — USMNT 2-0 Venezuela
La Vinotintos The counter-attack plan yielded five shot attempts, but USMNT keeper Patrick Schulte hardly caused any trouble until an injury-time strike wide of Mendoza’s far post.
The Yanks have filled the Venezuelan box with chances, putting six of eight shots on target in 64% possession.
It’s 2-nil and that’s with a saved penalty. The MLS-heavy contingent was expected to bow out a bit against a Venezuelan side heavily based in South America, with a number of MLS and foreign players, and that’s exactly what they do.
Patrick Agyemang goal (video)! USMNT 2-0 Venezuela (39th minute)
Another first international goal, and well deserved by the man from Charlotte FC.
The big Rhode Island Ram uses his body to keep a defender at bay as he strides a ball through Farinez’s legs.
Jack McGlynn Wonders (Video)! USMNT 1-0 Venezuela (37th minute)
It is hit with a sledgehammer.
The Philadelphia Union top dog scores his first international goal with a left-footed piledriver from yards outside the 18, following a fine lay-off from Cremaschi on the right.
USMNT yellow card – 19th minute
Inter Miami youngster Benjamin Cremaschi is beaten and pulls the jersey in midfield. He was warned early.
Venezuela opportunity
Patrick Schulte is all set for Venezuela’s first chance, a long-range effort from Gleiker Mendoza.
Deportivo midfielder Tachira quickly finds the ball and leads another rush.
This time he is closed by USMNT right back Shaq Moore.
USMNT opportunity!
Brian Gutierrez leads the striker and lays the ball wide for Max Arfsten, who delays his deflected cross but needs another half second before the gigantic Agyemang reaches the ball.
USMNT penalty, saved!
Patrick Agyemang is caught in the penalty area and it is a second-minute penalty for the USMNT.
Miljevic appeared to deny McGlynn the penalty, and… phew!
Miljevic’s tepid penalty is saved by Wuilker Farinez, a mediocre low effort.
USMNT lineup
Schulte, Arfsten, M. Robinson, Campbell, Moore, McGlynn, Cremaschi, Gutierrez, Miljevic, Clark, Agyemang.
Subs: Freese, Steffen, Zimmerman, D. Jones, White, Luna, Ream, Eneli, Vassilev
Venezuela setup
Farinez, Graterol, Mantia, Vivas, Rosales, Bolivar, Ortega, Pereira, Juanpi, Mendoza, Hurtado.
USMNT vs. Venezuela preview – By Joe Prince-Wright
Poch has been working with a predominantly MLS-based squad and January’s camp concludes with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica, the latter being played in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, January 22.
Because this game falls outside the FIFA window for international competition, USMNT players from most leagues around the world have not been cleared to play by their clubs. That’s the same for Venezuela, with most of their stars for South America’s surprise package in 2026 World Cup qualifying unavailable for this one.
Still, it will be intriguing to see how Pochettino uses the American stars playing in the MLS and which of them can challenge the European-based contingent for regular minutes over the next 18 months in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup on home soil. continues.
USMNT roster for friendly against Venezuela – Who are the key players to watch out for?
This is a great opportunity for goalkeeper Zack Steffen to show what he’s all about, while Tim Ream, Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman are USMNT veterans and being with that trio will be very helpful for this mostly young squad.
There are high expectations for many of the young USMNT midfielders, with Benjamin Cremaschi, Diego Luna and Jack McGlynn all highly rated and keen to make their mark.
In attack, there is only one cap between the six forwards and USMNT fans are curious to see whether the likes of Caden Clark, Patrick Agyemang or Matko Miljevic have impressed Pochettino enough to earn a start.
KEEPERS (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0 )
DEFENDERS (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 0/0), George Campbell (CF Montréal; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; 8/0), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; 19/1), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 66/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 41/3)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; 1/0), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 1/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 1/0 )
FORWARD (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 0/0), Caden Clark (CF Montréal; 0/0), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Matko Miljevic (Huracán/ARG; 0/0) , Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis CITY SC; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; 1/0)
Venezuela is difficult to break down
La Vinotinto drew six of 12 games in 2026 World Cup qualifying in South America and were so difficult to beat, conceding just 15 goals in 12 games.
In recent months they have drawn at home against both Brazil and Argentina, with experienced striker Salomon Rondon still going strong, but he will not be in this squad alongside most of the Venezuelan stars. They have a few experienced players in ex-Malaga standout Roberto Rosales and Atlanta United veteran Ronald Hernandez, but like the USMNT they have mostly called up young, domestic players.
This will be a very good test for this young USMNT side.