USMNT Announces Starting XI for Copa América Opener against Bolivia
ICARO Media Group
The US Men's National Team (USMNT) has revealed its starting lineup for the Group Stage match against Bolivia in the 2024 Copa América. The highly anticipated game will take place on June 23, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Leading the team is Captain Christian Pulisic, who will be making his 69th appearance for the USMNT. Pulisic has been a key figure for the team, and his leadership will be vital in the tournament. Joining him on the field are experienced players such as Tim Ream (59 caps), Weston McKennie (54 caps), and Tyler Adams (40 caps).
Head coach Gregg Berhalter has made two changes from the previous match against Brazil. Midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Folarin Balogun have been included in the starting XI. Adams, who last started for the USMNT in the Concacaf Nations League Final, provided the game-winning goal against Mexico. Balogun returns to the lineup after playing a substitute role against Brazil.
The lineup also features promising young talents like Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, and Joe Scally, who will be making their Copa América debut. In fact, all ten starters apart from Pulisic will be making their tournament debut.
The Starting XI has an average age of 25 years, 339 days, making it the second-oldest lineup deployed by Berhalter in a tournament group-stage match. The most experienced player in the squad is goalkeeper Matt Turner, who earns his 32nd cap in official competition, tying Brad Friedel for fourth all-time among U.S. goalkeepers.
The USMNT has a strong record in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with 18 unbeaten matches and a perfect 5-0-0 record at AT&T Stadium. They will be looking to continue their success against Bolivia, against whom they hold a 2W-2L-4D record in previous encounters.
An interesting fact is that tonight's match will be officiated by Maurizio Mariani, the only center referee from outside the Concacaf and CONMEBOL regions in the 2024 Copa América. This marks his first time officiating a USMNT match.
With a talented and experienced lineup, the USMNT is determined to start their Copa América campaign on a positive note. Fans can catch the pre-game coverage on various networks and follow updates on social media platforms. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. ET, and fans are eagerly awaiting an exciting showdown between the US and Bolivia.