U.S. Men’s National Team to Face Uzbekistan in International Friendly
St. Louis, MO – The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) will take on Uzbekistan in an international friendly at CITYPARK in St. Louis on Saturday. This will be the first match for the USMNT since their elimination in the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals in July.
The game holds additional significance as it marks Gregg Berhalter’s first match as head coach of the USMNT since the Round of 16 match against the Netherlands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Berhalter will be eager to lead his team to victory and begin their preparations for an important Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal match in November.
The winner of the upcoming quarterfinal contest will secure a spot in the 2024 Copa America, which is set to be hosted by the United States. With both teams looking to make a statement, the match promises to be an exciting affair.
In the FIFA rankings, the USMNT currently sits in 11th place, while Uzbekistan is ranked 74th. The Americans will be aiming to showcase their skills and improve their standing in the rankings with a strong performance.
It will be the second time in just over two months that the USMNT will be playing at the home of St. Louis City SC. In their previous match at the venue, the Americans recorded a resounding 6-0 victory over Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Gold Cup, with Jesús Ferreira netting a hat-trick. The USMNT has a strong history in St. Louis, boasting a 7-1-3 record in the city.
Following the friendly against Uzbekistan, the USA will face Oman in another friendly match in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will take on Mexico in Atlanta on the same night.
Uzbekistan may not have qualified for a FIFA World Cup yet, but they have emerged as one of the strongest teams in Central Asia. The team recently finished in second place behind Iran in the inaugural Central Asian Football Association Nations Cup. With the opportunity to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Uzbekistan will be determined to continue their strong performances.
This will be the first meeting between the two national teams, and the USMNT has had success against Asian opposition in recent years. Under Berhalter, the Americans have recorded wins against Qatar and IR Iran.
In their most recent matches, Uzbekistan has showcased good form, with a 4-1-1 record this year. The team started with a 1-0 win over Bolivia in a friendly, followed by a 1-1 draw against Venezuela. They then impressed in the 2023 Central Asian Football Association Nations Cup, recording victories over Oman, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. However, their unbeaten streak was halted by a 1-0 defeat to IR Iran in the final.
Uzbekistan’s new manager, Srecko Katanec, took charge of the team in August 2021. Katanec has previous experience leading national teams, including guiding Slovenia to their first FIFA World Cup in 2002. The team will be looking to build on his leadership and expertise.
The Uzbekistan roster includes players from domestic clubs as well as international leagues in countries such as Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Kazakhstan. Eldor Shomurodov, who plays for Cagliari in Italy’s Serie A, is their all-time leading goal-scorer with 37 goals.
With an exciting clash between the two teams on the horizon, both the USMNT and Uzbekistan will be aiming for victory. The match provides an opportunity for players to showcase their skills and stake their claim for a spot in future competitions. Football fans can tune in to watch the match on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, or FDP.