USA vs El Salvador live scores, updates, latest news CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers
The United States has positioned itself in a big way through eight games of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The job is far from done, however, as they prepare for their game against El Salvador tonight in Columbus, Ohio. As the first of three matches in six days, the United States could start bowing over a venue at this year’s winter grand prom in Qatar.
Gio Reyna was injured, but otherwise the USMNT squad was loaded, with all the stars ready to go. Head coach Gregg Berhalter and his teammates are gulping at the chance to finish what they started this World Cup cycle.
THAN: US cold weather strategy is risky
Berhalter said of the squad preparing for the El Salvador match: “The team has experience in qualifying for the World Cup, now the group is healthier, and the team is very confident. “All of those things work in our favor, but at the end of the day it’s about performing on the pitch. We can say everything on the pitch, but it will be about showing it on the pitch.”
El Salvador, meanwhile, is in serious trouble. The nation is seventh of the remaining eight CONCACAF teams, eight points above the intercontinental playoff spot. The room for error has dried up, and any further slip will extinguish many of the glimmers of hope that still remain.
“We knew it was an opponent that was going to be aggressive, they were going to press very high and we had to move the ball very quickly,” Berhalter said in his pre-match press conference. “They were the best press in the first eight games in terms of presses, so it’s an aggressive team and we have to prepare.”
Sporting News will follow the match live and provide score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USMNT vs. El Salvador
1HOUR | 2 family | Final | |
USA | – | – | – |
El Salvador | – | – | – |
Goal:
Not available
(All Eastern Ages)
6:32 pm: No pressure, boys.
The @USMNT kick off this three-match first leg in the Octagon with tonight’s home meeting with El Salvador (7 ET on ESPN2).
The US beat El Salvador in 14 consecutive home games, the longest streak of its kind against a single opponent in the team’s history.
– ESPN Statistics & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 27, 2022
6:25 pm: The pitch looked pristine, as our Michael DeCourcy was on the field for the game.
The people in Columbus are nice, it’s a little uncomfortable to talk much about the weather. But it’s cold outside! And maybe you can make snow ️ #USAvSLV pic.twitter.com/mrqUmHi7mV
– Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) January 27, 2022
6:13 pm: Gregg Berhalter says he chose Jesus Ferreira as a forward because he has better possession than Pepi, which will be crucial today in the tactical scheme they have chosen. We’ll see how it works for them.
Berhalter is coming @SamBorden:
“In this game we hope to play in our striker position a lot, using him as a point to attract their defenders, and Jesús did a great job of that. Ricardo Pepi very good for us and I’m sure we’ll see him in this window. Today we opted for Jesús”
– Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) January 27, 2022
6 pm: The lineup is in and it wouldn’t be a USMNT game without some key surprises. First and foremost, Ricardo Pepi missed an opportunity ahead, as FC Dallas teammate Jesus Ferreira earned a starting spot. Chris Richards started behind for Miles Robinson.
El Salvador had Brayan Landaverde’s surprise appearance in midfield, as the 26-year-old made only his fifth national team cap in the vitally important defensive midfield position.
The full roster of lineups and team news is below.
5:35 pm: Gyasi Zardes is getting ready for winter weather, some of which are currently in Columbus.
Go to the stadium in Columbus. It’s 31 degrees right now and it’s snowing lightly.
– Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) January 27, 2022
5:25 pm: Exaggerated video!
5:05 pm: Several USMNT players are in transfer limbo while on national team duty this January, but one has kept his future hidden. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who is likely to feature tonight with Zack Steffen still in Manchester with a back injury, is set to move to Arsenal in the summer, according to a flurry of reports today. Congratulations to Matt, a former untrained freelancer, on a huge step forward.
Break the way 💥💥💥💥
Within the previous hour, the parties had agreed to the terms of a summer transfer of @headdturnerr arrive @Arsenal. The documents are still being submitted. What a time for @NERevolution and especially Matt Turner. Not finished with this!!!
Now he must give @USMNT tonight.– Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 27, 2022
05:00: The USMNT will wear the broken glass home kit tonight, with the goalkeeper purple warming up. I think this year’s ensemble is underrated – a design that’s really fun, energetic, and not too busy to be annoying. I like this very much.
USMNT and El Salvador lineups and team news
The only name missing from the US roster for this international break is the winger Gio Reynawho couldn’t get rid of a nasty hamstring injury. DeAndre Yedlin was a non-uniformed spectator after arriving late from Turkey due to an ice storm. Otherwise, the lineup is full of top US talent with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest all available and ready to go. Pulisic, Adams and McKennie all started for the first time since 2019.
THAN: USMNT lineup for January qualifiers
Matt Turnerwho earlier today completed the move to Arsenal, starting with the goal Zack Steffen is still in the UK to deal with a reported return issue. Walker Zimmerman started as a centre-back, partnering with the young Bayern Munich player Chris Richardswith Miles Robinson saved for other matches.
Yunus Musahwho scored for Valencia against Atletico Madrid in his final game, will join Adams and McKennie in a three-man midfield. Ricardo Pepi was expected to lead the United States attack, but his FC Dallas teammate Jesus Ferreira instead, his FC Dallas teammate started first in World Cup qualifying. He is supported by Pulisic Timothy Weah who is preferred over Brenden Aaronson.
USMNT starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) – Dest, Zimmerman, Richards, A. Robinson – Adams, McKennie, Musah – Pulisic, Ferreira, Weah.
USMNT registration (9): Johnson (GK), Arriola, Zardes, Aaronson, M.Robinson, Morris, Roldan, McKenzie, de la Torre, Pepi, Cannon, Acosta.
In the 0-0 draw between the two teams in the opposite game, El Salvador coach Hugo Perez chose to clog the midfield and make life difficult for the Americans, who hold only 49% of the time. possession despite the talent gap. Perez will most likely do it again, using a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 formation, but it could be problematic in the backline.
Center back Ronald Rodriguezwho recently signed with FC Tulsa of the USL Championship and excelled the last time these teams met, was unable to secure a visa and Eriq Zavaleta is said to have contracted a toe infection, although he remains on the bench. Eduardo Vigil and Roberto Dominguez is the next row to replace them.
There are options in midfield, and Darwin Ceren and Brayan Landaverde in a team rotation from last time. Positive COVID-19 test stays the same Christian Martinez outside.
On the wings, 20 years old Enrico Duenaswho is from Dutch club Vitesse, has appeared in every World Cup qualifier, and Alex Roldan – brother of American tennis player Christian Roldan – plays on the opposite flank. Joaquin Rivas are always at the top, but failed to score in World Cup qualifying after a three-goal performance in the Gold Cup last summer.
El Salvador starting lineup (4-4-2, left to right): Gonzalez (GK) – Larin, Vigil, Dominguez, Tamacas – Duenas, Landaverde, Ceren, Roldan – J. Henriquez, Rivas.
El Salvador substitute (9): Alguera, Carabantes, Villalobos, Zavaleta, Flores, Bonilla, Calvillo, Rivas, K. Reyes, Portillo, W. Martinez.
How to watch USMNT vs. El Salvador
- Day: Thursday, January 27
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channels: ESPN2
- Spanish TV: UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming online: FuboTV, ESPN+ (requires registration)
The USA vs El Salvador match at Lower.Com in Columbus, Ohio, during the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers can be watched on TV across the US on ESPN 2 or streamed on ESPN+. The match is also available to stream via FuboTVaccessible by Free trial for new users.
Odds USMNT vs. El Salvador, choose and predict
Odds by DraftKings
Pick: USA wins and under 2.5 goals (+140)
Guess: USA 2-0 El Salvador
- Cash flow: USA -500 / Draw +500 / El Salvador +1200
- Spread (Asia Handicap): US -1.5 (-130) / El Salvador +1.5 (+110)
- Total goals is O/U 2.5: Above -110 / Below -115
- Both teams scored: Yes +200 / No -280