Head coach Gregg Berhalter leads the United States for the first time since being re-hired as USMNT boss as the U.S. takes on Uzbekistan in a friendly on Saturday.
Berhalter has nearly his entire compliment of regular starters at his disposal for the match, missing only Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna due to injury. Otherwise, the squad is at full strength as they begin the 2026 World Cup cycle in earnest.
With the United States set to host the 2026 FIFA tournament, the next three years are of critical importance to set the USMNT up for peak performance at its most important World Cup to date.
Following this friendly, the U.S. will take on Oman on Tuesday in the second game of the September international window.
LIVE BLOG: Follow along with highlights & commentary as the USMNT meets Uzbekistan in St. Louis
USA vs. Uzbekistan lineups, team news
Gregg Berhalter has already confirmed his starting XI for this international friendly against Uzbekistan, which is information the USA head coach is usually hesitant to divulge pre-match.
Folarin Balogun will start at striker, but will come off at halftime due to a lack of fitness, having only just completed his move to AS Monaco and yet to appear at club level this season. Ricardo Pepi will come on to play striker for the second half.
The only question still to be answered was in midfield, where Luca de la Torre was slated to start but picked up a slight calf injury. Yet he proves fit to start, and his potential understudy Tanner Tessman will have to be content with possibly playing a role off the bench.
Below are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at CityPark in St. Louis.
MORE: Full USMNT roster for September friendlies vs. Uzbekistan and Oman
USA starting lineup
USA starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) — Dest, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson — McKennie, Musah, de la Torre — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
- Out: Tyler Adams (hamstring), Cameron Carter-Vickers (hamstring), Gio Reyna (leg fracture), Josh Sargent (ankle), Drake Callender (late arrival).
- Doubt: Luca de la Torre (calf)
- Suspended: None
Berhalter will not have the services of goalkeeper Drake Callender for this match, as he will not arrive in camp until Sunday, after playing for his club Inter Miami on Saturday. Inter Miami has lost an incredible nine players to international duty this window, so Callender elected to stay and help his club before joining the USMNT for their second friendly against Oman on Tuesday.
Tim Ream captains the #USMNT in his hometown of St. Louis 🇺🇸
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) September 9, 2023
Lineup Notes » https://t.co/D8X22L93jK pic.twitter.com/Wp7Pn8qAhi
Uzbekistan starting lineup
Uzbekistan starting lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Yusupov (GK) — Ashurmatov, Aliqulov, Eshmurodov— Alijonov, Shukurov, Urunov, Hamrobekov, Sayfiev — Masharipov, Shomurodov.
- Out: None
- Doubt: None
- Suspended: None
Uzbekistan's most experienced player is 28-year-old striker Eldor Shomurodov who is at Serie A side Cagliari, on loan from Roma, and captains his international team. He has 37 goals in 66 caps for the White Wolves, including nine in his past 11 appearances, and is one of only two players in this squad to boast double-digit international goals.
The other is playmaker Jaloliddin Masharipov, who was briefly club teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr last season but has yet to find a new home after his contract expired this summer.
USMNT pic.twitter.com/pUPr5jWrdk
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) September 9, 2023
USA vs. Uzbekistan live stream, TV channel
This international friendly between the United States and Uzbekistan will be televised in the U.S. on TNT as part of the new long-term broadcast deal with U.S. Soccer.
It will also be shown on Telemundo and Universo in Spanish.
All three channels are available to stream via Fubo in the United States.
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | TNT, Universo, Telemundo | Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo NOW |
