USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago lineups, starting 11 for CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final

Contributor
Brad Cox
USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago lineups, starting 11 for CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final image

The US men's national team are aiming for a third straight CONCACAF Nations League title, starting with a quarterfinal clash against Trinidad and Tobago.

After a 2-0 victory over Canada secured their most recent title, the United States earned automatic qualification to this stage. Despite a 5-3 loss to Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago secured the second spot in Group A thus making it to this round. 

Led by coach Gregg Berhalter, the USA are not just aiming for another Nations League title, but also an automatic place in the 2024 Copa America.

Trinidad and Tobago, led by Dennis Lawrence, are making their first appearance beyond the group stages since the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, having won their first three matches by a slim one-goal margin.

The quarterfinal first leg takes place in Austin, Texas with a start time of 9 p.m. ET. The Sporting News details the team news for the game here.

MORE: What is the CONCACAF Nations League?

USMNT squad for CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal 

The 24-man USMNT squad for the pair of matches against Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals were announced on November 9.

Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are the two big absentees from the squad, with the Serie A stars both suffering hamstring injuries.

PosNameClubCapsGoals
GKEthan HorvathNottingham Forest (ENG)90
GKGaga SloninaKAS Eupen (BEL)10
GKMatt TurnerNottingham Forest (ENG)350
DEFCameron Carter-VickersCeltic (SCO)140
DEFSergino DestPSV (NED)302
DEFKristoffer LundPalermo (ITA)30
DEFTim ReamFulham (ENG)531
DEFChris RichardsCrystal Palace (ENG)141
DEFAntonee RobinsonFulham (ENG)372
DEFMiles RobinsonAtlanta United (USA)283
DEFJoe ScallyBorussia Monchengladbach (GER)70
MIDPaxten AaronsonEintracht Frankfurt (GER)10
MIDJohnny CardosoInternacional (BRA)90
MIDLuca de la TorreCelga Vigo (ESP)190
MIDLennard MaloneyHeidenheim (GER)10
MIDWeston McKennieJuventus (ITA)4811
MIDYunus MusahAC Milan (ITA)310
MIDGiovanni ReynaBorussia Dortmund (GER)226
MIDMalik TillmanPSV (NED)60
FWDBrenden AaronsonUnion Berlin (GER)368
FWDFolarin BalogunAS Monaco (FRA)63
FWDKevin ParedesVfL Wolfsburg (GER)20
FWDRicardo PepiPSV (NED)209
FWDAlejandro ZendejasClub America (MEX)71

USMNT starting lineup vs Trinidad and Tobago

Even with the absence of key players such as Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah due to hamstring injuries, the USA still possesses a strong team, featuring notable players like Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and promising talents such as Yunus Musah and Folarin Balogun.

Berhalter is a coach who is unlikely to sway from his usual 4-3-3 formation unless circumstances change drastically.

It remains to be seen whether Reyna or Malik Tillman are deployed on the wing, while the other ends up as the main attacking midfielder.

USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Dest, Carter-Vickers, Ream, A. Robinson — McKennie, Musah, Tillman — Reyna, Balogun, Paredes.

2023/24 CONCACAF Nations League schedule

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal matchups are contested by four seeded teams, who earned a bye to this round, against four qualifiers from the group stage.

In the table below, the home team's score is listed first in each match, with seeded teams hosting first leg and unseeded teams hosting second leg.

Match1st Leg date/result2nd leg date/result
#2 USA vs. Trinidad and TobagoNov. 16, 2023
9 p.m. ET
Nov. 20, 2023
7 p.m. ET
#4 Costa Rica vs. PanamaNov. 16, 2023
10 p.m. ET
Nov. 20, 2023
9 p.m. ET
#3 Canada vs. JamaicaNov. 17, 2023
7 p.m. ET
Nov. 21, 2023
7:30 p.m. ET
#1 Mexico vs. HondurasNov. 17, 2023
9 p.m. ET
Nov. 21, 2023
9:30 p.m. ET

Semifinals

To determine semifinal matchups, quarterfinal winners are re-seeded, placed in a table based on their results across two legs in the quarterfinals.

DateTimeMatchup
Mar. 21, 2024TBD#1 QF winner vs. #4 QF winner
Mar. 21, 2024TBD#2 QF winner vs. #3 QF winner

Third Place

DateTimeMatchup
Mar. 24, 2024TBDSF loser vs. SF loser

Final

DateTimeMatchup
Mar. 24, 2024TBDSF winner vs. SF winner