USA vs. Trinidad: Gold Cup lineups, news, score forecast.
USMNT Faces Trinidad & Tobago in Gold Cup Opener
With a desire to turn recent disheartening defeats into motivation, the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) kicks off their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday in San Jose. After a troubling streak of four losses under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, tensions within the squad are palpable. A particularly harsh 4-0 loss to Switzerland last week has left fans anxious about the team’s prospects for the upcoming World Cup, which will take place on home soil.
Current Team Atmosphere
The mood surrounding the USMNT is uneasy. After being outplayed significantly in their last friendly, fans are questioning the effectiveness of the coaching staff, especially as the national squad gears up for the pivotal World Cup next summer. Pochettino hopes that facing Trinidad & Tobago, ranked 100th in the world by FIFA, will provide a much-needed confidence boost. However, with many first-team players absent, including notable stars like Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah who opted for rest, the challenge may be steeper than anticipated.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Ambitions
On the other side of the pitch, Trinidad & Tobago enters the tournament with hope. Historically, the Soca Warriors have only qualified for one World Cup, back in 2006. But with the current cycle allowing more teams into the competition, they see an opportunity to potentially secure their place in the tournament. Their past Gold Cup achievements are modest—they haven’t progressed beyond the quarterfinals since reaching the semis 25 years ago.
Team Lineup and Available Players
As they prepare for this crucial match, the USMNT faces significant absences. In addition to the stars who opted out, players like Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna are tied up with club commitments. Meanwhile, injuries have sidelined Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun, and others, complicating Pochettino’s plans. For the upcoming match, he is expected to field a lineup similar to the one that competed against Turkey, where the team showed resilience.
Predicted USMNT Lineup
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Freese (GK) — Freeman, Richards, M. Robinson, Tolkin — Cardoso, de la Torre — McGlynn, Tillman, Luna — Agyemang.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Prospects
For Trinidad & Tobago, coach Dwight Yorke boasts a fully fit squad ready to make a statement in the Gold Cup. Some notable omissions include seasoned goalkeeper Adrian Foncette and defender Aubrey David. Yet, attacking players like Levi Garcia and Dante Sealy, who recently impressed with a 6-2 routing of St. Kitts & Nevis in World Cup qualifying, could pose challenges for the USMNT.
Trinidad & Tobago Predicted Lineup
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond
Phillip (GK) — Cardines, I. Garcia, A. Jones, Bateau — Molino, D. Phillips, Fortune, Spicer — L. Garcia.
Match Prediction and Stakes
While the USMNT showed vulnerability against Switzerland, their performance against Turkey gave some glimpses of potential. If Pochettino can reinstate effective players from earlier friendly matches, the USMNT should still manage to overcome Trinidad & Tobago, even if the Soca Warriors adopt a defensive approach.
Prediction: USA 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago
Viewing Information
This crucial Gold Cup opener will be available across various platforms:
- Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025
- Time (ET): 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
- TV Channel (English): FOX
- Streaming (English): Fubo, Fox Sports app, ViX
- TV Channel (Spanish): TUDN, Univision
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, TUDN.com, Universo NOW
The entirety of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup will be broadcasted by FOX, with all matches available for streaming on Fubo, which is currently offering a free trial for new users. For more information on the tournament and continuing coverage, fans can visit FIFA’s official website.
