This past Sunday on June 18th, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team defeated Canada, two goals to zero to win the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League Title.
USA lift the Concacaf Nations League 🎉 pic.twitter.com/GKtFnWdU9S
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 19, 2023
CHRIS RICHARDS SCORES HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOAL 🔥
The @USMNT take the lead in the Concacaf Nations League final. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/kjym95pywc
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 19, 2023
The game was held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both goals were historic, as Center Back- Chris Richards and Forward- Folarin Balogun became the first and second players to score their first international goals in a Final. Both first-half goals were assisted by Gio Reyna. The first of which came in the 12th minute as Reyna (taking a corner kick) crossed the ball to the center of the box for Richards to finish the sequence off with a wonderful header. The second came in the 34th minute, assisted by Reyna with a through ball to Balogun in the center of the box to take the right-footed shot to score in the bottom right corner of the goal.
FOLARIN BALOGUN SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL FOR THE @USMNT IN HIS SECOND APPEARANCE! 🇺🇸 🦅 pic.twitter.com/YtrrkRNx8x
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 19, 2023
USMNT’s Captain and star Forward- Christian Pulisic (three goals and two assists throughout the tournament) brought home the Tournament’s Best Player Award, while Goalkeeper- Matt Turner was named Best Goalkeeper following his four saves in the Final against Canada. The win Sunday was the USMNT"s third straight regional trophy and their second straight CONCACAF Nations League title.
🏆 BACK-TO-BACK 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n3lyjOX4Yc
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2023
Pulisic said after the game, “It"s another step in the right direction, It"s just going to be about these knockout games. Come these big tournaments, Copa America, and World Cup, it"s time to get tough. We got to step up and score the goals when it counts and keep them out of our goal."
One tournament ends, another begins…
Your 2023 Gold Cup squad 🏆 pic.twitter.com/f5FYcVPlVt
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 20, 2023
Interim coach- B.J. Callaghan said, “We"re looking beyond to the 2026 World Cup, and we need to perform in high-intensity knockout games. That"s something that we learned from the World Cup." Callaghan assumed the coaching position last month and will also run the team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup next weekend, June 24th at 8:30 P.M. CST against Jamaica. While Reyna and most of the other European-team players will begin their summer break this week, Callaghan and five others will join an MLS player-heavy roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Greg Berhalter was brought back as coach last Friday and will resume his position as coach in September during exhibitions.
In their six games during the CONCACAF Nations League tournament, the USMNT won five games and drew once. In order they defeated Grenada 5-0, Drew with El Salvador 1-1, defeated Grenada 7-1, defeated El Salvador 1-0 in the Group Stage, and then went on to defeat Mexico (3-0) and Canada (2-0) in the knockout stage to become champion once again.
With the win, the USMNT"s list of accomplishments grew in recent years.
The U.S. National Team has been achieving solid results in the last few years against some stiff competition. A lot of eyes will be on the USMNT in 2024 when the U.S. will go against the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Ecuador in the Copa America tournament to see how they fair against even tougher competition before the 2026 World Cup when all eyes will truly be on the progress of the USMNT. The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
