USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago prediction, projected lineups, and how to watch | OneFootball

Ready or not, the Gold Cup is here for the U.S. men's national team. Following a 2-1 loss to Türkiye and the 4-0 debacle against Switzerland, it’s fair to question whether Mauricio Pochettino’s squad is ready for competitive games. But regardless of what the answer may be, the USMNT has no choice; They open Gold Cup play on Sunday against Trinidad & Tobago.

The Americans enter Sunday’s game on a four-game losing streak that dates back to a pair of Nations League losses in March. This is the first four-game losing streak for the USMNT since 2007 when they lost five in a row. Of course, that losing streak came immediately after winning the 2007 Gold Cup, so the circumstances are different this time around.

Believe it or not, the U.S. lost to Trinidad & Tobago the last time these teams met, 2-1 in November 2023 in the second leg of a Nations League quarterfinals, days after a 3-0 victory in Austin. Sergino Dest's red car that day was the story, and the Americans still won on aggregate.

Naturally, fans also remember the loss in Trinidad that cost the USMNT a spot in the 2018 World Cup. On the bright side, in the four matches between those two T&T victories, the U.S. won all four by a combined score of 22-0.

Similar to the U.S., the Soca Warriors head into the Gold Cup in poor form. They’ve lost three of their last four games, including a 2-1 loss to Costa Rica on Tuesday in World Cup qualifying. Trinidad & Tobago’s Gold Cup history isn’t that impressive either, as the Soca Warriors haven’t made it out of the group stage since 2015.

How to Watch USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago

Time: Sunday, June 15, 6:00 PM, ET

Venue: PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif,

Tickets: Click here

TV/streaming: Fox in English | TUDN in Spanish

USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago Projected Lineup

The performances against Türkiye and Switzerland were so poor, it’s hard to predict who Pochettino will select for the Gold Cup opener. More players likely played themselves out of a starting spot than into one. That being said, with a largely inexperienced roster, Pochettino may look to find as many experienced internationals as he can find and take his chances with that group.

Similarly, the Trinidad & Tobago squad for the Gold Cup is also a mix of youth and experience. There are five players on the Gold Cup roster with over 50 international caps. On the other hand, there are also 10 players with fewer than 10 appearances for the national team. The T&T squad will also feature five MLS-based players.

USMNT Lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left)

Matt Turner (GK) - Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Chris Richards, John Tolkin - Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre - Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn - Patrick Agyemang

Trinidad & Tobago Lineup (5-4–1, right to left)

Marvin Phillip (GK) - Rio Cardines, Josiah Trimmingham, Alvin Jones, Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones - Dante Sealy, Kevin Molino, Daniel Phillips, Tyrese Spicer - Levi Garcia

USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago prediction

It’s hard to remember a time when there was this much pressure on a U.S. team heading into a Gold Cup opener. The group stage is typically a formality, but there is genuine concern about the U.S. Pochettino could be on the hot seat if things don’t go well, so starting the tournament with a win is critical.

While anxiety is high and expectations are low amongst the fan base, this is still a weak Trinidad & Tobago squad. The USMNT may have had some issues in the past facing Trinidad on the road, but playing the Soca Warriors on home soil should be a different story. Even an inexperienced B squad should be able to control the flow of play and earn three points.

That being said, the USMNT appears to be lacking proven goal scorers. That’s among the team’s biggest questions heading into the Gold Cup. Therefore, the win may come easily, but the scoreline may not be that convincing.