Mexico beat the United States Men’s National Team 1-0 in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final at Soldier Field in Chicago. Johnathan Dos Santos scored the only goal of the affair, hitting the top of the crossbar and bouncing in in the 73rd minute.

“This was what we came here for,” said the captain for the Mexican team, Andres Guardado, according to ESPN. “We did it and in an unforgettable setting. We’re very happy. The whole team was spectacular.”

Winning the Gold Cup would’ve proven to be a step in the right direction for this new US team under Gregg Berhalter. Falling just short, the Mexican team humbled this US team who won every game leading up to this one with some comfortability. This 1-0 victory for Mexico was the first time this US team trailed the entire tournament.

There are more than a few takeaways this US team can look at and bring to their attention. Jozy Altidore had a clear chance inside the first 10 minutes when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa that he shot wide of goal. Missing a chance like that can prove cost-worthy, and it did. 20-year-old Christian Pulisic seemed to be on his own out there, trying to provide multiple chances for his team that just fell short. He had a shot in the first five minutes of the game that was saved by Ochoa, but went missing during the second half as the Mexican defense tracked his every move knowing he was the outlet the Americans sought out.

“I think what we lacked was I think some of the confidence, some of the composure,” Berhalter said about the second half, according to ESPN. “We knew it was going to be a big event, we knew it was going to be a semi-hostile crowd. And I think what I’d say is the confidence is what we lacked. Mexico certainly had it.”

Perhaps the US team lacked a bit of inexperience in the midfield. Weston McKennie proved to be a threat on both ends of the pitch earlier in the tournament, but like Pulisic, seemed to fail to impact the game in anyway. On the other side of midfield, the most experienced player on the field Michael Bradley looked to be a step behind the game entirely. Bradley was constantly beat in the midfield and provided a wealth of turnovers in crucial areas.

“We have a quality team, and we believe in a lot of the young players,” said Berhalter, according to ESPN. “We think that at the end of the day, we need to gain experience. A game like this is perfect for us. It was a big occasion, a lot of the players’ first time playing in a game like this, and we need to learn. We weren’t ready for the step tonight but we will be ready.”

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team have had a rough few months, but if you still believe in them you can see them play Paraguay in a friendly game later this month.

U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team vs. Paraguay tickets

The USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup (in Russia this summer) after suffering a brutal  2-0 loss to Trinidad & Tobago in their final qualifier in October. However, U.S. Soccer elected a new president — Carlos Cordeiro, a veteran administrator of the federation — in February to replace Sunil Gulati, who had been in charge of U.S. Soccer since 2006. The last time the U.S. men missed out on a World Cup bid was in 1986.

One could hope that new leadership in the federation could help American soccer improve to the level it was up until a few years ago.

The game against Paraguay will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday, March 27. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm EST. Tickets begin at just $52 on ticketmaster.com.

Mobile tickets will be available for download Friday, March 16 at 10 am EST. This event only allows mobile as a delivery method. Orders are limited to one transaction per household or place of business.

The USMNT will also face Ireland and France on the road in June.

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic (L) of the United States mens national team is tackled by Kevon Villaroel (R) of Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

The U.S. Men’s Soccer Team beat Paraguay 1-0 in a game in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday evening behind a score by Bobby Wood. 

Bobby Wood goal USA vs. Paraguay

Wood’s goal came on a penalty just before halftime of the friendly contest. Zack Steffen made a key save on a Paraguay free kick just before the final whistle to seal the victory.

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Both the U.S. and Paraguay failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, so Tuesday’s game was more about seeing how these teams would compete in the 2022 finals.

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“This match once again represents an opportunity for some new faces,” U.S. interim coach Dave Sarachan said about his 22-man roster, per U.S. Soccer’s official site. “The roster has an average age under 24, so for the most part this is a group of younger players that we feel have a future with the national team along with some familiar names.”

Kyle Martino, a contributor for NBC Sports, and MLSSoccer.com’s Matthew Doyle both stated they think the U.S. men’s team has a bright future ahead of it.

Before his goal, Wood was one of the few issues with the US men’s team in the first half of Tuesday’s game at WakeMed Soccer Park. The 25-year-old Hamburg (Bundesliga) forward was the only striker playing for the Americans, something that only magnified his errors.

Wood’s penalty came after Paraguay goalkeeper Gatito Fernandez fouled 19-year-old New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams, a youngster who impressed fans who raved about him on social media.

Sarachan just utilized four substitutes in the game, and made no changes until the 67th minute.

The USMNT will next face Bolivia in another friendly game in Chester, Pennsylvania on May 28.

The United States Men’s National team has dropped its first game of 2018 — against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

USA vs. Bosnia friendly score

The Americans tied 0-0 at StubHub Center in Carson, California on Sunday in a lackluster matchup that included Major League Soccer star Haris Medunjanin of Bosnia missing a second-half penalty.

Both teams brought inexperienced, largely domestic-based players to the contest. Dave Sarachan, the U.S. interim manager, is now 0-0-2 since taking over for Bruce Arena after leading the Americans to a 1-1 draw in Portugal in November.

The USMNT played dismally in 2017, a year that culminated with the Americans failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after they lost to Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 in their final qualifier in October.

Sarachan chose Wil Trapp, Cristian Roldan and Tyler Adams for his central trio.

Jordan Morris nearly gave the Americans an opportunity in the 23rd minute. Following a long cross from captain Trapp, Morris took the ball, beat his defender to the end line and sent in his own cross into the center of the box, only for goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic to grab the ball and end the threat.

Medunjanin, a Philadelphia Union midfielder whose 56 caps and 11 goals are by far the most on Bosnia’s roster, but he was unable to deliver on Sunday. Though U.S. goalie Zack Steffen dove to the wrong side, Medunjanin’s 53rd-minute penalty kick banged into the post.

The U.S.’s first-half goalie, Bill Hamid, made the best stop of the half in the 43rd minute, when center back Walker Zimmerman was unable to block a cross from the right.

Steffen wasn’t the only substitution after the break. Paul Arriola and Kelyn Rowe stepped in for C.J. Sapong and Gyasi Zardes on offense.

The American’s most fluid attacking moment was sparked by another sub. Juan Agudelo fed Rowe with an accurate cross. Rowe then lobbed a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Morris. Rather than take a first-time shot on goal, however, Morris took a touch and then fired, but his shot was blocked by a defender.

The U.S. next plays a pair of friendlies in Europe in March. The U.S. Soccer presidential election will be held before then, which means some changes to the men’s national team could go into effect during the time in between matches.

COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 29: Kyle Beckerman #15 of the United States Men’s National Team controls the ball against Guatemala during the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier on March 29, 2016 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The United States defeated Guatemala 4-0. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The U.S. Men’s National Team won’t be going to Russia next summer.

USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago World Cup Qualifier Score

The Americans failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986 after suffering a brutal 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago in Couva on Tuesday night.

“It was a perfect storm kind of a night, where everything that could have possibly went wrong did, in this stadium and two others,” said U.S. captain Michael Bradley. 

Bradley’s statement perfectly summed up the evening. Team USA needed only a tie or a win in order to qualify, having entered the night in third place in the six-nation CONCACAF group with 12 points behind table-leaders Mexico and Costa Rica. Losses from then-fourth-place Panama and fifth-place Honduras also would have benefited the Americans, but this did not materialize: Panama defeated Costa Rica 2-1 in Panama City with a late goal to reach its first-ever World Cup, while Honduras beat Mexico 3-2 in San Pedro Sula. Both of those games were also played on Tuesday night.

“We didn’t qualify for the World Cup,” head coach Bruce Arena said after the deat. “That was my job. We have no excuses. We failed today.”

The U.S.’s troubles began early, as Trinidad’s first goal was actually an own goal scored by defenseman Omar Gonzalez in the 17th minute. Following a cross from the right wing, Gonzalez attempted to beat forward Shahdon Winchester to clear the ball from the penalty box, but he accidentally lobbed the ball over goalie Tim Howard. 

Gonzalez said the goal would “haunt him forever.”

At around the same minute, Oribe Peralta gave Mexico a 1-0 lead over Honduras, but Honduras tied it in the 34th.

In the 37th minute — approximately one minute after Johan Venegas put Costa Rica up 1-0 — Alvin Jones doubled Trinidad’s advantage with a spectacular shot from about 35 yards out on the right flank.

Christian Pulisic — who has arguably played the best of all the players on the U.S. roster — made it 2-1 less than two minutes after halftime. Here is the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s strike:

The Americans saw some close scoring chances late in the second half, like Clint Dempsey’s 76th-minute low shot that hit the post, and Benny Feilhaber’s header off a left-wing Pulisic cross, a strike goalie Adrian Foncette managed to knock away.

Here is the moment when the U.S.’s failure to qualify became official:

Roman Torres scored the game-winner for Panama in the 88th minute, thus making the country finish third in the CONCACAF hexagonal, while fourth-place Honduras will face Australia in a two-leg playoff in November to see if it qualifies. The U.S. finished fifth in the table, and Trinidad in sixth.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati — who faces re-election in February and whose term ends after the 2018 World Cup — said he was “extraordinarily disappointed.”

Trinidad and Tobago assistant coach Stern John — a former MLS and English Premier League forward — derided the USMNT’s complaints over the drenched field at Ato Boldon Stadium one day prior to Trinidad’s victory.

“There was a lot of fire in our eyes,” John told USA TODAY Sports. “I think it was disrespectful of them.”

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic (L) of the United States mens national team is tackled by Kevon Villaroel (R) of Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

The U.S. will be visiting Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday night for their final 2018 World Cup Qualifier, and here is everything you need to know to watch the game.

USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago Preview

The match will begin at 8 p.m. EST at Ato Bolden Stadium in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago, and can be viewed on beIN SPORTS or in Spanish on NBC Universo. It can also be live-streamed on beIN Sports Connect.

The Americans are in third place in the six-nation CONCACAF qualifying group with 12 points, behind only Mexico and Costa Rica, following a 4-0 victory over Panama on Friday. If the U.S. wins, it automatically qualifies for the tournament in Russia, as the top two teams in each group earn an automatic berth. Even if the Americans tie, they would still qualify.

A loss would then mean the U.S. would miss its first Men’s World Cup since 1986. It would face Australia or Syria in a playoff if it finished fourth, or third should Panama and Honduras both lose their own final qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively.

Christian Pulisic — who contributed a goal and an assist in Friday’s victory — said he is feeling much better after sustaining a calf injury in the second half of that game against Panama.

“Doing better. I’ve been improving every single day. I’m just trying to get as much recovery in as I can,” said the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

“I was always getting kicked around, I think, so it’s something I kind of grew up with,” said the scrawny, 5-foot-8, 140-pound Pulisic. “Now, I guess, I don’t know how to explain it — it’s getting a little stronger, getting a little more [physical].

Pulisic scored two goals in the U.S.’s last meeting with Trinidad, a 2-0 World Cup Qualifying victory in June.

Here is the full U.S. roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Tim Howard (Colorado), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)

Defenders (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston), Matt Besler (Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Michael Orozco (Tijuana, Mexico), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna, Mexico), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle, England), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)

Midfielders (9): Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Juan Agudelo (New England), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Benny Feilhaber (Kansas City), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Bobby Wood (Hamburg, Germany)

JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Michael Bradley #4 of the United States makes a pass during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago at EverBank Field on September 6, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The U.S. Men’s National Team is playing a crucial World Cup Qualifier against Panama in Orlando on Friday night, and here is everything you need to know to watch the game.

USMNT vs. Panama World Cup Qualifier Preview

The game begins at 7:35pm EST at Orlando City Stadium, and will air on ESPN2. It can also be live-streamed on WatchESPN.

Bruce Arena’s 23-man roster includes forwards Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore; midfielders such as 30-year-old Michael Bradley and 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic; English Premier League defenders Geoff Cameron and DeAndre Yedlin; and goalkeeper Tim Howard, among others.

“The World Cup is in our hands. We control our own destiny,” said U.S. midfielder Dax McCarty.

The Americans must win this match and their final qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday (Oct. 10) in order to make next summer’s tournament in Russia. The U.S. is fourth in the six-nation North, Central American and Caribbean group with nine points, behind third-place Panama (ten points), and table leaders Costa Rica (15 points) and Mexico (18 points).

Fifth-place Honduras is tied with the U.S. with nine points. The top three teams in each qualifying group earn an automatic bid.

“This is what high-level athletes and coaches are supposed to be about,” said Arena. “We’re playing in a big game, which means there’s going to be big moments and we need to have big performances. And I believe we’re prepared to do that.

“When I took the job at the end of November, we were 0-2, dead last in sixth place. To think that it wasn’t coming down to games nine and 10, you’d have to be pretty stupid. If you told me we had to win our last home game to position us to get into the World Cup, I’d say that’s OK.”

The U.S. famously scored two late goals against Panama in a 2013 qualifier to dash the Latin American country’s hopes of reaching the 2014 tournament.

Here is the full U.S. roster:

COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 29: Kyle Beckerman #15 of the United States Men’s National Team controls the ball against Guatemala during the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier on March 29, 2016 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The United States defeated Guatemala 4-0. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The U.S. Men’s National Team has two 2018 World Cup Qualifiers remaining this month, and head coach Bruce Arena has named his 23-man roster for both contests.

USMNT World Cup Qualifiers roster news

The Americans will first play Panama in Orlando on Friday, then visit Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10. Arena’s squad is in danger of missing next year’s tournament in Russia for the first time since 1986 following a string of poor performances. The USMNT managed only a last-minute 1-1 tie against Honduras in its last game, and fell to Costa Rica 2-0 before that. They also tied Mexico 1-1 earlier this year.

The U.S. is fourth in the six-team North, Central American and Carribbean group with nine points (one point behind third-place Panama). Mexico leads that hexagonal with 18 points. Only the top three teams in each group earn an automatic berth to the World Cup.

The Americans could still qualify by winning their last two games, but anything short of that would require help from table leaders Mexico and Costa Rica, who also play their final two qualifiers this month.

“It comes down to where we need four or six points in our last two games,” Arena said. “I think that’s fine and we’ll get it done.”

Two major U.S. players who will sit out the final two games are Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Fabian Johnson, whom Arena decided to leave off due to a lack of fitness, and L.A. Galaxy midfielder Gyasi Zardes, who suffered a groin injury in his MLS team’s 1-1 tie vs. Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Also sitting out will be Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, who strained his hamstring last month, and German-born VfL Wolfsburg defender John Brooks, who sustained a thigh injury in his debut with the Bundesliga team this season.

Arena also called up forward Jozy Altidore and defenders Geoff Cameron and DeAndre Yedlin, who all missed substantial time with their club teams in September due to hamstring injuries. The roster also includes Colombian-born New England Revolution forward Juan Agudelo — a former Chivas USA star who has never played in a World Cup Qualifier — and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who hasn’t attended training camp before a qualifier since 2009. Feilhaber has not played for the national team since a 1-0 exhibition win over Jamaica on Feb. 5, when he made his first start since 2012.

“It’s a roster we’ve selected that we believe will give us success in these next two games,” Arena said. “We have a pretty balanced roster with experienced players, and if any issues arise, I think we have cover in all positions. We need to anticipate some issues with players with injuries, as well as suspensions.”

Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Cameron, Clint Dempsey and Yedlin all would be suspended for the Trinidad match if they get a yellow card against Panama.

Here is the full U.S. roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Tim Howard (Colorado), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston), Matt Besler (Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Michael Orozco (Tijuana, Mexico), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna, Mexico), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle, England), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Juan Agudelo (New England), Paul Arriola (D.C.), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Benny Feilhaber (Kansas City), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Bobby Wood (Hamburg, Germany)

TAMPA, FL – JULY 12: Gyasi Zardes #9 of the United States against Sebastien Cretinoir #21 of Martinique during the first half of the CONCACAF Group B match at Raymond James Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Bobby Wood scored a late goal in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s game against Honduras at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday night to close out a 1-1 tie and avoid a decrease in the Americans’ chances of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

USA vs. Honduras World Cup Qualifier Score

Had the USMNT lost — combined with a potential victory from Panama later on Tuesday (the country indeed defeated Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 on Tuesday) — the Americans would have found themselves in fifth place in the six-country North/Central American and Caribbean qualifying group, two points behind the fourth-place team. Thus, the U.S.’s chances of qualifying for next year’s tournament in Russia would have been slim to none, especially after their 2-0 loss to Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena on Friday.

Instead, the U.S. is now fourth in the table with nine points, behind third-place Panama (ten points), second-place Costa Rica (15 points) and leaders Mexico (18 points). Mexico and Costa Rica tied 1-1 on Tuesday.

After Honduras’s Romell Quioto opened the scoring in the 27th minute, Wood netted the equalizer in the 85th minute following a scramble after a saved Kellyn Acosta free kick.

Jordan Morris narrowly missed the U.S.’s first scoring opportunity in the third minute. The forward took a pass from his Seattle Sounders teammate Clint Dempsey but his 18-yard shot flew just wide.

Honduras countered in the ninth minute. Houston Dynamo’s Alberth Elis faced his club teammate DaMarcus Beasley by the right post, although Acosta recovered defensively.

The U.S.’s first real shot on goal, however, came in the 20th minute. Christian Pulisic deftly maneuvered past several Honduran defenders, then chipped the ball to Dempsey, who attempted to score through traffic while drawing contact. Dempsey was not whistled for his foul, however, and goalkeeper Luis Lopez easily caught the ball. Shortly before Dempsey’s shot, the Sounders forward took a cleat to the head from Jorge Claros, who received a yellow card.

Brad Guzan made a key save on a low shot from Elis in the 23rd minute, and Quioto hit a volley above the crossbar from six yards out shortly afterwards. However, Quioto — a Dynamo forward scored soon afterwards. U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez failed to make a key tackle and Quioto beat Guzan from close range.

Jozy Altidore was suspended for Tuesday’s game due to card accumulation.

“There’s not even a crack open in the door to Russia for us,” USA coach Bruce Arena said in his post-game press conference. “That’s a huge point for the U.S. team. The conditions were challenging for both teams. I’m really proud of our team.”

The U.S. routed Honduras 6-0 in their previous meeting in San Jose, California in March (the earlier part of this fifth and final World Cup Qualifying round). Now, the Americans will face tough contests for their final two qualifying games against Panama and Trinidad & Tobago in October.

The Americans will face Panama in Orlando on Oct. 6 and travel to play Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 10.

HARRISON, NJ – SEPTEMBER 01: Bobby Wood #9 of the United States controls the ball against Francisco Calvo #15 of Costa Rica in the first half during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Red Bull Arena on September 1, 2017 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Jordan Morris scored in the 88th minute on Wednesday night to propel the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 2-1 victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

USMNT Jamaica Gold Cup Final SCORES

The 22-year-old Seattle Sounders forward netted after taking an assist from Clint Dempsey. Gyasi Zardes raced down the right sideline and crossed into the middle of the box, where the ball was only partially cleared. Dempsey managed to knock it down with his heel — following a Jamaican defender’s header deflection — right into the path of an onrushing Morris, who fired a shot through a crowd of Jamaican defenders and into goalkeeper Dwayne Miller’s top right corner. Morris also scored in the U.S.’s final group stage victory against Martinique. 

Two minutes before that goal, a free-kick from Dempsey bounced off the Jamaica wall and deflected off Morris in the box. The ball then fell to Matt Besler, who fired a shot that Miller saved.

The U.S. has now won six Gold Cup titles: only Mexico has won the tournament more times (seven), while Canada has won once. The game also marked the second straight time Jamaica finished as runner-up in the Gold Cup, after the country lost to Mexico in the 2015 tournament.

The Americans’ captain Michael Bradley won the Golden Boot despite playing only three of the six games.

The U.S. dominated possession for most of the match (73 percent, according to ESPN). Bradley was fouled about 30 yards from goal just before halftime after a nice buildup through midfield. On the ensuing free-kick in the 45th minute, Jozy Altidore curled  fantastic shot over Jamaica’s wall and inside Miller’s top left corner to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead at the break. The goal marked Altidore’s 39th career international goal, fourth all-time in the Gold Cup and third against Jamaica.

Jamaica equalized four minutes after halftime when the visitors capitalized on a dead ball situation after earning a corner kick. On that play, Kemar Lawrence fired a perfect strike to the back post, and Je-Vaughn Watson beat Morris to connect with a volley and make it 1-1.

Tim Howard made two saves for the U.S. to earn his 61st victory.

Manager Bruce Arena is now the only head coach to lead the USMNT to three Gold Cup titles, having previously guided the Americans to trophies in 2002 and 2005. Arena’s all-time record against Jamaica is 6-0-5.

The USA is 15-2-8 all-time vs. Jamaica and 12-1-3 at home.

The Americans next play Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Sept. 1 for the first game of the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, and then travel to face Honduras on Sept. 5 before playing Panama and Trinidad & Tobago in October.

SANTA CLARA, CA – JULY 26: #8 Jordan Morris of the United States celebrates scoring a goal against the Jamaica during the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final at Levi’s Stadium on July 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

After defeating Costa Rica 2-0 in Saturday night’s CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal in Arlington, Texas, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Jamaica in the tournament final on Wednesday night in Santa Clara, California.

USMNT Jamaica Gold Cup Final info

Jamaica defeated Mexico — the other favorite team to win the Gold Cup besides the U.S. — 1-0 on Sunday to reach the final.

The final will be held at Levi’s Stadium and will begin at 9:30 pm EST (6:30 pm PST).

Game info:

Venue: Levi’s Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.

Kickoff Time: 9:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. PT (Actual kick around 9:50)

Available TV: FS1, Univision, Univision Deportes

Available Streams: Fox Sports Go, Univision Deportes, fuboTV (free trial), Sling TV

Odds to win:

USA: 1/2
Draw: 11/4
Jamaica: 7/1

The lineups for both teams have yet to be announced. The USMNT is undefeated so far under head coach Bruce Arena, with a record of 8-0-5.

Clint Dempsey scored the Americans’ game-winning goal against Costa Rica with an 82nd-minute free-kick on Saturday after Jozy Altidore broke the deadlock with a stellar score of his own following an assist from Dempsey ten minutes earlier.

The U.S. lost to Jamaica 2-1 in the 2015 Gold Cup semifinals.

The U.S. is 4-1-0 against Jamaica in their previous five games, the last of which was a friendly victory in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Feb. 3.

In other related news, German-born midfielder Fabian Johnson announced earlier this week that he may retire from the USMNT following the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Johnson plays for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and will not participate in Wednesday’s final, like many other U.S. internationals. He boasts 56 caps with the U.S. since he made his debut in November 2011 under former head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and played every game for the Americans in the 2014 World Cup.

CHATTANOOGA, TN – FEBRUARY 03: Brad Evans #3 of USA kicks a ball past Jourdain Fletcher #16 of Jamaica during the second half of a friendly international match at Finley Stadium on February 3, 2017 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

United States Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena has replaced six players on his 23-man squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, citing the need for more stars with extensive international experience as his reason for the changes.

USMNT Gold Cup 2017 Lineup

Arena added on Sunday forwards Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), midfielders Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) and Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), and goalkeepers Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) and Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas).

According to Gold Cup regulations, teams are permitted to make up to six changes to their roster within 24 hours of the end of their third and final group-stage game, as long as the players come from a team’s 40-man preliminary roster.

The six players substitute goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson, midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Cristian Roldan and Kelyn Rowe, and forward Dom Dwyer.

“We have added some experienced players to the roster that can help us in the Knockout Round of the Gold Cup,” said Arena. “The players leaving all made a good impression, and I’m optimistic for their future with the National Team program.”

Some of the changes were planned in advance. Bedoya is expecting the birth of his second child this week and thus was always expected to take time off. U.S. Soccer stated the departures of Guzan and Johnson were also expected.

Gonzalez will be playing in his first-ever official tournament since FIFA approved his one-time switch from Mexico to the U.S. earlier this month.

The other five players participated in the most recent round of 2018 World Cup qualifying in June, and four of them — Bradley, Howard, Altidore and Dempsey — boast more than 100 international caps.

The U.S. finished in first in Group B after the first round of the Gold Cup with seven points (two victories and one tie) following Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Nicaragua in Cleveland.

The Americans will next face El Salvador in the quarterfinals in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Mexico (Group C) and Costa Rica (Group A) finished the first round as the other two group leaders.

Canada made only one change to its roster, adding Orlando City striker Cyle Larin in place of Toronto FC wing-back Raheem Edwards.

Mexico will not make any changes, given that its top players participated in the Confederations Cup earlier this summer.

Wednesday’s quarterfinal will air at 9 pm EST on Fox Sports 1.

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 16: Clint Dempsey #8 of the United States follows the play against against Ecuador during the 2016 Quarterfinal – Copa America Centenario match at CenturyLink Field on June 16, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Gedion Zelalem, a midfielder for the U.S. Men’s National Team and an Arsenal prospect, will miss the rest of the the Under-20 World Cup with a knee injury, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday.

USMNT star Gedio Zelalem to miss rest of U-20 World Cup with Knee Injury

The 20-year-old German-born American tore his left ACL in the first half of Monday’s 3-3 tie against Ecuador, the USMNT’s opening group game in the South Korea tournament. Zelalem walked off in the 34th minute.

“For Gedion, this was his second U-20 World Cup, so his experience was invaluable for us,” U.S. Coach Tab Ramos said in a statement. “His passing ability is second to none in this tournament, and we’ll miss that. He was running the team from his position.”

The midfielder is expected to undergo surgery and miss six months or more, according to the Washington Post. 

Zelalem, who plays for Arsenal’s Under-20 squad, has been on loan to Dutch second division team VVV Venlo. The central midfielder came to the United States with his family from Germany in 2006, and became an American citizen in 2014. After playing one year of high school soccer in Bethesda, Maryland, Zelalem moved to London halfway through his sophomore year to join Arsenal’s youth club.

The U.S. U-20 men next play Senegal on Thursday. Senegal leads Group F after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0.

The final of the U-20 World Cup will be held on June 11.

Arsenal, which is set to play Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, has not yet commented on Zelalem’s injury.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 10: Gedion Zelalem of USA beats the challenge of Andres Tello of Colombia during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Round of 16 match between USA and Colombia at Wellington Regional Stadium on June 10, 2015 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Christian Pulisic assisted Clint Dempsey for the US. Men’s National Team’s lone goal in a 1-1 road tie against Panama in Tuesday night’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying game.

Clint Dempsey, US. Tie Panama 1-1 in 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Pulisic, the precocious 18-year-old Croatian-American midfielder who plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s Bundesliga, took the ball on the right wing in the 39th minute and dodged one defender, Felipe Baloy. He then evaded another Panamanian, Roman Torres and after some prolific ball-handling near the right side of the goal, tapped the ball to veteran Dempsey, who slid to fire from close range directly in front of the goal and give the Americans a 1-0 lead. The Panama City crowd became silent after this strike.

Shortly afterwards, however, the hosts scored a goal of their own to equalize just before halftime. In the 43rd minute — four minutes after Dempsey’s goal — Panama defender Adolfo Machado, who plays for Houston Dynamo in MLS, delivered a long, arching throw-in from the right wing toward the penalty box. After the ball bounced off a player in the area, Gabriel Gomez fired into the back of the net to stun goalie Tim Howard. The crowd at Estadio Rommel Fernandez then became electric.

After the U.S. celebrated its own goal moments earlier, head coach Bruce Arena — who was directing in his second game in charge of the team — frantically pointed to his watch, gesturing to his players to relay the fact that halftime was near and that they should be very careful. Clearly, that message fell on deaf ears, as it was a defensive error that led to Gomez’s strike three minutes before the break.

The second half featured several close opportunities from both sides. Howard made a key save on shots from Luis Tejada and Anibal Godoy after the break. Gabriel Torres had a great chance for Panama with 12 minutes remaining, but his shot flew wide.

Pulisic was ultimately considered the man of the game for his crucial assist, despite his occasional instances of arguing with the referees and opponents. U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez, who delivered a terrible performance in Friday’s win over Honduras, improved significantly against Panama. 

With one point form the tie, and 3 points from their 6-0 rout of Honduras on Friday, the Americans now have 4 points and remain in fourth place in the six-team CONCACAF table, one point behind Panama, and now trail group leader Mexico by 6. Mexico defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 earlier on Tuesday evening.

The U.S. next host Trinidad and Tobago on June 8, and then travel to face Mexico three days later. CONCACAF will send three teams to the World Cup automatically, with a fourth qualifying for a playoff against a team from the Asian confederation.

According to ESPN’s Soccer Power Index, the U.S. have an 82 percent chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 24: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Honduras during their FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Avaya Stadium on March 24, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

After two crushing defeats to Costa Rica and Mexico in the last round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying in November, the U.S. men’s national soccer team bounced back with a thunderous 6-0 victory over Honduras in San Jose, California on Friday night.

USMNT Face Panama in 2018 World Cup Qualifier: Game Preview and Info

The American men have thus improved their place in the CONCACAF — the region encompassing North and Central America and the Caribbean — hexagonal standings to fourth with 3 points, behind first-place Mexico (7), second-place Costa Rica (6), and third-place Panama (4).

Trinidad & Tobago and Honduras are the last two teams in the six-country table, with 3 points each.

The USMNT, led by new coach Bruce Arena, know they have quite a bit of work to do to secure their spot in next year’s tournament in Russia, however. Clint Dempsey scored a hat-trick in Friday’s win over Honduras.

“We’re not in a situation where we can say, ‘Great, we took our three points at home, whatever we get on the road is extra,’ ” captain Michael Bradley said. “No. We have to come here and take points. We want three.”

Bradley — who criticized President Donald Trump earlier this year after Trump’s attempt to pass an executive order banning Muslims from seven countries failed — added that if after 90 minutes of play in Panama City on Tuesday, they only get one point because of a tie, “then fine. But the mentality is that we have to follow up a big win with another real good performance.”

Tuesday’s game at Rommel Fernandez Stadium (10 pm EST) will be the team’s fourth of ten games in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying. . Three teams will receive automatic berths, a fourth will go to a two-leg playoff against Asia’s fifth-place team.

This is Arena’s second stint as USMNT coach, his previous tenure going from 1998 to 2006.

When asked about his coaching style and strategy, Arena refused to contrast these to his predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann, who was fired in November after the two losses in the previous qualifying round.

“I have spent no time in the past. There’s nothing I can do about it,” he said. “I kind of have a sense about things, but there’s no point spending a whole lot of time investigating what went on in the past: good, bad or indifferent. The idea was just to get it going the right way from the start.”

Arena has two rules: be on time and be respectful. He also said he wants to grant some autonomy and leadership to several of the veteran players.

“I really believe in that because it’s their team; it’s not my team. It’s their team, and they have to take ownership.

“It becomes contagious in the group. If you have a bunch of people who are [jerks], it tends to be what your team looks like. If it’s my job to control them all day, I don’t think we have a chance. And I’m basically not interested in doing it. I would just open up a preschool.”

Bradley credits Arena for implementing improvements in the few weeks he’s been with the team. “We had lost our way in some ways,” he said. “Bruce has just done a very good job of coming in and being very clear with how we’re going to do things, with what he wants us to be about, on the field, off the field. The guys have responded in a really good way.”

The USMNT has lost several players to injuries recently, including Bobby Wood and Fabian Johnson, and Arena announced two more this week: John Brooks and Jordan Morris. 

Here is the info for the game:

What: Fourth of 10 World Cup final-round qualifiers for each team.

Where: Rommel Fernandez Stadium, Panama City.

When: Tuesday at 10 pm EST.

TV: beIN Sports, (English broadcast) Telemundo, Universo (Spanish broadcasts).

Live streams: beIN Sports Connect, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, Universo Now, fuboTV, go90.

CONCACAF standings

Mexico 2-0-1, 7 points, +3 goal differential

Costa Rica 2-1-0, 6 points, +4

Panama 1-1-1, 4 points, 0

United States 1-2-0, 3 points, +1

Trinidad & Tobago 1-2-0, 3 points, -3

Honduras 1-2-0, 3 points, -5

Other games:

Costa Rica at Honduras, 5 p.m. (Universo)

Mexico at Trinidad & Tobago, 7 p.m. (beIN Sports, Telemundo)

SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 24: Clint Dempsey #8 of the United States scores a goal as Henry Figueroa #4 of Honduras defends during their FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Avaya Stadium on March 24, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Michael Bradley has spoken out against the 45th President of the United States.

USMNT Captain Michael Bradley ‘Embarrassed’ By Trump’s Muslim Ban

The U.S. Men’s National Team captain slammed President Donald Trump who, in just his first week in office, has signed several controversial executive orders. On Friday, Trump banned citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The travel ban even included citizens from these nations who have green cards and visas on a case-by-case basis.

When refugees and immigrants were detained at airports, including New York’s JFK, on Saturday, protests began all across the country.

Bradley gave an interview with Sports Illustrated senior writer and FOX Sports correspondent Grant Wahl to state his thoughts on the executive order. Bradley clarified in an Instagram post that he believes his initial response was “too soft,” and went on to more harshly criticize President Trump for his action. The American captain said he was “sad and embarrassed” by the ban, and stated Trump “couldn’t be more out of touch with our country and the right way to move forward.”

Here is the full post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP1tTxtFWrw/

After Trump’s election in November, Bradley initially called for unity:

“My general feeling is that we as Americans, we trust our system, we respect our democracy,” he said. “Regardless of your beliefs, regardless of how you voted, we have an obligation to come together and get behind our new president and to have faith and trust that he will do what’s best for the entire country.

“In moments like this it is easy to question things. But this is what makes our country great, that we have a system where every American can go and vote. The results may not be what every person wanted. Some are happy, others aren’t, but the way forward is to come together, give our president support, rally behind him. He will continue what I believe every president has done – make decisions for the good of the country.”

Bradley has played 126 total games for the U.S., and has been the Americans’ captain since 2015. The New Jersey native has played throughout Europe– in the Netherlands, Germany, England and Italy– before signing with Toronto FC, where he has played for the last three years.

The USMNT tied Serbia 0-0 in a friendly game on Sunday. They next face Jamaica in another friendly on Friday.

The Americans’ next 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches are on June 8 against Trinidad and Tobago and then on June 11 against Mexico.

The LA Galaxy signed U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Jermaines Jones on Wednesday, more than one month after acquiring his MLS rights from the Colorado Rapids.

LA Galaxy Sign USA Midfielder Jermaine Jones

The move marks the Galaxy’s first major acquisition of the winter. The team dealt a first-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and a conditional second-round pick in 2018 to the Rapids for the right to sign Jones, whose contract expired at the end of 2016.

Other player contracts are in the works for the Galaxy. On Thursday, the team is expected to announce the signing of 23-year-old Portuguese midfielder João Pedro. Plus, rumors of a deal with Spanish midfielder Jonathan dos Santos were reignited Wednesday as negotiations with Dutch midfielder Gregor Breinburg seemed to dissolve.

Jones, 35, and his family have been living in Los Angeles ever since he left Germany’s Bundesliga to join MLS in 2014. The midfielder played 14 seasons in Germany, where he was born.

Terms of Jones’ contract were not announced but the team said targeted allocation money was used to complete the deal, meaning Jones will earn more than the MLS maximum wage of $480,625 in 2017. He had a base salary of $600,000 last season, when he played just nine games with the Rapids.

“Jermaine is a winner who has experience in MLS and playing against the highest competition in the world,” new LA Galaxy manager Curt Onalfo said in a statement. “He has a relentless engine on the field and we are confident that he will strengthen our midfield. We look forward to him joining the Galaxy as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

Jones has played 60 games for the national team, including several during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but never made more than 17 starts in parts of three MLS seasons. He missed three-and-a-half months with a knee injury last year before returning in time to help the Rapids eliminate the Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals.

Since then, the Galaxy have lost designated players Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, as well as former MLS Cup winners Landon Donovan, Mike Magee, Leonardo and A.J. DeLaGarza. The team also had to replace its entire coaching staff after Bruce Arena replaced Juergen Klinsmann as the men’s national team’s head coach and took four assistants with him.

Galaxy officials also stated Wednesday that they have agreed to a contract extension with midfielder Sebastian Lletget, who is in camp with the USMNT. The team did not disclose terms of that deal, either. According to the MLS Players’ Union, Lletget earned $115,500 last season, his first full year in MLS.

SANTA CLARA, CA – JUNE 03: Edwin Cardona #8 of Colombia tries to dribble around Jermaine Jones #13 of United States during the 2016 Copa America Centenario Group match between the United States and Colombia at Levi’s Stadium on June 3, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

CONCACAF announced on Monday the 14 stadiums in 13 cities that will serve as venues for next summer’s 2017 Gold Cup, which the U.S. will host from July 7-26.

CONCACAF Announces 14 Venues For 2017 Gold Cup

Four of the venues will host matches from the biennial championship for the first time, while the other 10 have previously hosted at least one Gold Cup game over the previous 13 editions of the tournament.

The first-time hosts are the Alamodome (San Antonio), FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) and Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee).

“We’re excited to bring the Gold Cup to new markets across the country. These cities have all proved ready and eager to host our region’s marquee soccer championship, and welcome world class international soccer next summer,” CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio said in a statement. “With matches also set for some of our more popular venues over the years, such as Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, next year’s Gold Cup will highlight the top-tier sporting status of international soccer across the nation.”

CONCACAF also announced the U.S. and Mexico’s group schedules. They will headline Group B and C, respectively.

The USMNT will open their tournament at Nissan Stadium on July 8, play their second group game at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on July 12 and conclude group play on July 15 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Mexico will begin on July 9 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, then on July 13 at Sports Authority Field in Denver and on July 16 at the Alamodome.

MLS venues, including Red Bull Arena, the Houston Dynamo’s BBVA Compass Stadium and FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium, will serve as venues for all three rounds of Group A games.

NFL stadiums AT&T Stadium, Levi’s Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, the Rose Bowl and University of Phoenix Stadium will host Knockout Round matches.

Thus far, seven teams (Canada, Curacao, French Guiana, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico and the U.S.) have qualified for the competition, with four more entrants to be determined by January’s Central American championship. The final Gold Cup spot will be determined by a playoff between a Caribbean team and a Central American country.

The winner of the tournament will be guaranteed a spot in the next CONCACAF Cup, a single knockout game to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup, unless that same team claims the 2019 edition of the Gold Cup.

Group stage dates and venues
July 7, Group A: NY/NJ – Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey)
July 8, Group B: Nashville – Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
July 9, Group C: San Diego – Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego)
July 11, Group A: Houston – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston)
July 12, Group B: Tampa Bay – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
July 13, Group C: Denver – Sports Authority Field (Denver)
July 14, Group A: Dallas – Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
July 15, Group B: Cleveland – FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
July 16, Group C: San Antonio – Alamodome (San Antonio)

Knockout round venues (alphabetical order by metropolitan area)
Bay Area – Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Dallas – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Los Angeles – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Phoenix – University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

CHESTER, PA – JULY 25: Armando Cooper #11 of Panama holds off Joe Corona #24 of the United States in the second half during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place Match at PPL Park on July 25, 2015 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Panama won in a penalty shootout. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Jurgen Klinsmann has seen both highs and lows over his five years as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, but now his reign has reached its end.

Jurgen Klinsmann Fired As U.S. Men’s National Team Coach

The 52-year-old German was fired on Monday by U.S. Soccer.

The federation’s announcement came shortly after Sunil Gulati and Dan Flynn, two of U.S. Soccer’s top executives, met with Klinsmann at a hotel in the Los Angeles area. U.S. Soccer did not immediately name Klinsmann’s replacement, although it is expected that Bruce Arena — a Major League Soccer veteran who coached the national team from 1998 to 2006 — will take the post through the end of the current World Cup qualification cycle.

“While we remain confident that we have quality players to help us advance to Russia 2018, the form and growth of the team up to this point left us convinced that we need to go in a different direction,” Gulati, the U.S. Soccer president, said in a statement. He is expected to elaborate on the thinking behind Klinsmann’s dismissal during a conference call with the news media on Tuesday afternoon.

Klinsmann did not return The New York Times’ phone call seeking comment.

The coach had dined with President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several Nobel laureates and astronauts at a gala in Berlin on Thursday.

Klinsmann returned to his home in California over the weekend and was bemused by the criticism he was receiving in the media for the USMNT’s two recent losses — a 2-1 defeat to Mexico and a 4-0 thrashing by Costa Rica — that had damaged, but not completely erased, the U.S.’s chances of qualifying for the 2018 Russia World Cup. In an interview on Sunday, Klinsmann said he remained very confident that both his team would qualify for the World Cup and that he would keep his job.

The loss to Mexico marked the Americans’ first defeat in a home World Cup qualifier in 15 years. The USMNT also gave a terrible performance at the 2015 Gold Cup, where they fell behind both Jamaica and Panama. That was the first time the U.S. dropped its first two games of the final qualifying round. He led the U.S. to the semifinals of the Copa America Centenario this summer, however.

Klinsmann took over as head coach in 2011, finally agreeing to a contract after Gulati had pursued him on and off for years. He led the USMNT to the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup after facing a challenging group that also included Germany, Portugal and Ghana. However, Klinsmann was criticized for stating in an article published in The New York Times Magazine that he did not believe the Americans stood any chance of winning the tournament, as well as for his decision to leave popular veteran Landon Donovan off the final squad he took to Brazil.

Klinsmann stepped down as coach of the German national team after just two years despite leading his home country to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup.

“I’m not afraid,” Klinsmann said in an interview with The New York Times on Sunday night. “What you need to do is stick to the facts. Soccer is emotional, and a lot of people make conclusions without knowing anything about the inside of the team or the sport. I still believe we will get the points we need to qualify, and I am even confident we could win the group.”

He added: “The fact is, we lost two games. There is a lot of talk from people who don’t understand soccer or the team.”

These comments were perceived as arrogant and dismissive by many American soccer fans, players and coaches.

 The firing represents the first time since 1989 that U.S. Soccer has changed coaches in the middle of a World Cup qualifying cycle.

The U.S.’s next two qualifying games will be in March, against Honduras at home and Panama on the road.

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 16: Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann of the United States gestures as he walks off the pitch after defeating Ecuador in the 2016 Quarterfinal – Copa America Centenario match at CenturyLink Field on June 16, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Jozy Altidore looked impressive Tuesday night, scoring two goals to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying match in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jozy Altidore Scores Twice As USMNT Beat Trinidad And Tobago 4-0

The U.S. have now won Group C in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and advance to the final round of qualifying after securing their spot in the Hexagonal. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann played with his starting lineup a little bit following the USMNT’s 6-0 win against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday.

Altidore, a Toronto FC forward who fills the void left by Clint Dempsey’s absence, displayed superior strength, speed and skill. After New York Red Bulls star Sacha Kljestan opened scoring in the 44th minute by tapping in the ball from 10 yards following a goalmouth scramble, Altidore took a pass from Fabian Johnson, created space in the box, and fired a right-footed shot pas Trinidad goalie Marvin Phillip to double the Americans’ lead in the 59th minute.

Four minutes later, the Toronto FC star delivered again. Kljestan passed to Christian Pulisic on a give-and-go and the latter player found Altidore on the far post with a well-placed cross that Altidore merely had to poke in for a 3-0 lead.

Pulisic, a midfielder who plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, is the youngest member of the USMNT squad: he will turn 18 later this month. Though he didn’t score, Pulisic impressed in Tuesday’s match, proving to be a catalyst in the Americans’ victory.

The only sour note on the night for Pulisic came when he raced onto an Altidore pass and slammed his shot off both posts.

“I don’t think I”ve ever seen anything like that,” Pulisic said of his closest chance at a goal. “After that I didn’t think I was going to score because there’s no way after something like that. Disappointing.”

Paul Arriola scored the fourth and final goal in the 71st minute. Pulisic intercepted the ball at midfield and launched a counter-attack. The youngster drove at the defense before sending the ball to Jordan Morris on his right, and then proceeded to dash into the box to receive a pass from Altidore. Pulisic shot, but his attempt bounced off the goalkeeper. Arriola tapped in the rebound to make it 4-0.

Arriola’s goal was his second in as many caps. The game also marked the international debut of Caleb Stanko, a 23-year-old midfielder from Michigan who plays for Swiss Super League club FC Vaduz on loan from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg. Stanko came on late in the second half.

Veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard said the USMNT is in a good place right now.

The U.S.’s final round of World Cup qualification will be a rivalry match-up against Mexico on November 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. has defeated Mexico in World Cup qualifying 2-0 in each of the last four qualifying cycles.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Jozy Altidore #17 of the United States drives toward the goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago at EverBank Field on September 6, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)