Concacaf Gold Cup

In the end it was only fitting that the two players who’d combined time after time to crush the spirits of the hugely pro-Mexico crowd inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ultimately delivered the fatal blow for the USMNT in Sunday’s Gold Cup final. 

Kellyn Acosta was sensational for the U.S. in midfield over 120 minutes, and it was his delivery in the 117th-minute of extra time that found center back Miles Robinson, who’d been just as good anchoring the Americans’ backline. 

Hello and welcome to our prematch coverage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Final between the USMNT and Mexico in Las Vegas, Nevada. With kickoff set for 9 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision and TUDN, this is going to be a rowdy night in every sense of the word.

USA vs. Qatar

Gyasi Zardes' goal in the 86th minute sent the U.S. men's national team to the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup after a 1-0 semifinal victory against Qatar in Austin, Texas, on Thursday.

Zardes entered the match in the 63rd minute and the Columbus Crew forward scored his 14th international goal off a counter after pressure created a turnover.

U.S. Soccer morale isn’t too high across the board right now. On the women’s side the USWNT has done anything but impress at the 2020 Olympics with one decent performance and two horror shows. Meanwhile on the men’s side, the B-team is grinding out Gold Cup results and is preparing for its biggest challenge yet, Qatar.

USMNT

I’ve seen several posts online from fans in agreement that they would rather lose to Mexico 5-0 than fall to Qatar at home. I would have to agree in all honesty.

A beautifully chaotic Gold Cup quarterfinal between the USMNT and Jamaica produced a dramatic winner on Sunday night in Arlington after 20-year-old forward Matthew Hoppe earned the Americans’ passage to the semis with a header in the 83rd minute.   

With an average age of 23 and average cap collection of just 12, there was a question of nerves — especially after a large crowd at AT&T Stadium had belted out "The Star-Spangled Banner" to animate the enormity of the occasion. 

For the first time since 2007, Canada is back in the semifinals of the Gold Cup after a commanding 2-0 win over Costa Rica at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday night.  

The immediate consequence is that Canada plays Mexico on Thursday at NRG Stadium in Houston. The long-term implication is that Canada, heading into 2022 World Cup qualifying, can make a serious claim as to now being Concacaf’s third-best team.