Panama’s midfielder Edgar Barcenas, left, fights for the ball with USA forward #10 Christian Pulisic … More during 2024 Conmebol Copa America group play. The nations meet again on Thursday in a Concacaf Nations League semifinals.
AFP via Getty Images
The United States men’s national team will play its most important match to date under first-year manager Mauricio Pochettino in a Concacaf Nations League 2025 semifinal against Panama on Thursday.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What Is The Concacaf Nations League?
The Concacaf Nations League is an annual international soccer competition governed by Concacaf, the regional federation in charge of soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The competition was launched in 2018 with the intention of creating more meaningful international matches across the region, particularly for smaller nations that typically don’t advance very far in Concacaf’s quadrennial World Cup qualifying tournament.
There are three tiers of competition: A, B and C. The United States has always competed in the A tier and is a three-time champion in the competition. In 2024-25, it was one of four seeded teams to receive a bye directly to the quarterfinals.
Who, Where and When?
The USMNT will face Panama in the first semifinal Thursday night, followed by the second semifinal between Canada and Mexico. The winners will play in the final and the losers in the third-place match, both on Sunday.
All four games will be at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Here’s the full schedule:
Semifinals
Thursday, March 20: at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 7 p.m. ET/4 PT: United States vs. Canada
- 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT: Mexico vs. Canada
Final and Third-Place Match
Sunday, March 23: at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 6 p.m. ET/3 PT: 3rd place match, semifinal losers
- 9:30 p.m. ET: Final, semifinal winners
The Backstory
USA vs. Panama
The United States and Panama are familiar foes, with Los Canaleros as the Panamanians are sometimes called enjoying more success than you might expect. The Americans own a significant overall advantage in the series, but Panama has earned victories in the last two competitive fixtures, including a shocking 2-1 upset in Atlanta in group play of the 2024 Copa America. The USMNT went on to lose to Uruguay in its final group match and be eliminated before the knockout phase, an outcome that ultimately cost former manager Gregg Berhalter his job.
Mexico vs. Canada
Mexico is the region’s traditional power – even moreso than the U.S. – but Canada is by far the most improved nation in Concacaf of late, having reached its first World Cup in 36 years in 2022 after finishing in first in the region’s qualifying round. The Canadians are also unbeaten in their last three meetings with Mexico, including a home win and an away draw during 2022 World Cup Qualifying.
Key Players
USA – Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic is still the United States’ most important player.
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The 26-year-old Pulisic remains the Americans’ most important figure, and is involved in most of what the U.S. attack does well when he’s on the field. He’s also been healthy and playing regularly since his move to A.C. Milan from Chelsea prior to the 2023-24 season, and has been one of their most consistent performers even in what is currently a down season.
Panama – Adalberto Carrasquilla
The 26-year-old is the midfield engine for a Panamanian squad that often produces results greater than the sum of its parts. Carrasquilla had plied his trade in MLS with the Houston Dynamo until this winter, when Pumas UNAM of Liga MX paid Houston a record transfer fee reportedly in the range of $3.5 million.
Canada – Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davies is the crown jewel of a golden generation of Canadian talent.
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The 24-year-old Davies is the starting left back for Bayern Munich, Germany’s most decorated club side, and was the focal point of Canada’s first successful qualification bid in nearly four decades. He sometimes plays in a more advanced role for the national team, but that has been less true since Jesse Marsch took over as manager last year.
Mexico – Santi Gimenez
The 23-year-old striker is club teammates with Pulisic at A.C. Milan after making a winter move from Feyenoord. He’s had a slow start to life in Italy with only two goals, but he scored 45 times in the Dutch Eredivisie in the last two-and-a-half seasons prior to his transfer. A native of Argentina, Gimenez moved to Mexico as a young boy to follow his father’s career, also as a pro footballer.
Who’s favored?
USA vs. Panama Odds (via BetMGM)
- USA: -350
- Draw: +350
- Panama: +850
Canava vs. Mexico Odds (via BetMGM)
- Canada: +130
- Draw: +200
- Mexico: +180
How To Watch In The U.S.?
In English
Paramount+
In Spanish
Univision, TUDN, TUDN.com, TUDN App
