Happy New Year!
The U.S. Men’s National Team begins a new era under head coach Gregg Berhalter in 2019. While the opening of the team’s annual January Camp is just days away, the gathering is just the start of what will be a busy year for the MNT.
Though some schedule and other details still need to be worked out, here’s a rundown of important dates and windows for the MNT in the new year:
January Camp
Dates: Jan. 6 – Feb. 2
The U.S. Men’s National Team takes its first steps under new head coach Gregg Berhalter during the side’s annual January Camp. With a new coach comes a shift in the location of the camp, with MNT players set to report Jan. 6 to the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
- READ MORE: 2019 January Camp Roster Announced
- READ MORE: Berhalter Discusses First MNT Roster
The near month-long gathering will give Berhalter extended time with a mostly domestic-based player pool as he begins implementing his desired style of play and philosophy with the group. The MNT will then have the opportunity to test itself with end-of-camp friendlies against Concacaf foes Panama on Jan. 27 (State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Ariz.) and Costa Rica on Feb. 2 (Avaya Stadium; San Jose, Calif.)
2019 Concacaf Gold Cup
Dates: June 15-July 7
The first competitive test for the MNT under Berhalter comes in the 15th edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Two new twists accompany the 2019 competition.
First, while a majority of games will be played in the United States, Concacaf has tapped Costa Rica and a still to be announced Caribbean venue to host a set of group stage doubleheaders. While Mexico and Canada have previously hosted Gold Cup matches alongside the United States, this will mark the first time one edition of the tournament has been hosted in three different countries.
Secondly, the field has been expanded from 12 to 16 nations. The six countries that took part in the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying are automatically entered, while the top 10 finishers in qualifying for the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League (see further down for an explanation) will also punch their ticket to the tournament. Qualifying for the Nations League will conclude next March, with the Gold Cup group announcement to occur shortly after.
After winning its sixth Gold Cup title in 2017, the USA sits just one behind Mexico for most championships in tournament history. The MNT will have to wait until the spring to learn its opponents, but thanks to being the seeded team in Group D the side does know when and where it will play its first three matches, starting with a sold-out crowd at Allianz Field on June 18 in St. Paul, Minn. Four days later it’s FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, with the group stage concluding June 26 at Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan.
FIFA International Windows
Dates: March 18-26; June 3-11; Sept. 2-10*; Oct. 7-15*; Nov. 11-19*
Along with the Concacaf Gold Cup, these 10-day windows are the times set aside by FIFA which allow all national teams to call upon their full complement of players. Mark your calendar for the March dates, since it will be Berhalter’s first opportunity to see the majority of players based in Europe. Fans should expect the USA to play two matches during each of the 10-day windows, though sites and opponents are still to be determined.
And those asterisks… what are those about? See below…
2019-20 Concacaf Nations League Group Stage
Possible Dates: Sept. 2-10; Oct. 7-15; Nov. 11-19
The Concacaf Nations League is a new competition conceived to give all members of the confederation more meaningful matches during the World Cup cycle. Qualifying for the inaugural competition began this past September and runs through the March international window. From there, the competition field will be separated into three different tiers – League A, League B and League C.
As a participant in the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, the USA is one of six teams seeded directly into League A. The top tier format will feature four groups made up of three teams, with home and away matches held between each group opponent during the course of the September, October and November international windows – the reason for those asterisks. The group winners will then advance to the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League Knockout Round, which will feature a Semifinal and Final to be played during the 2020 March FIFA International Window. The second-place finishers will remain in League A for the next edition, while teams that finish third in their groups will be relegated to the league below.
The USA will learn its group opponents and schedule for the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League once qualifying concludes in the spring. With four matchdays in the group stage of the competition, the MNT will also play two friendlies during the fall FIFA windows, though those dates will be dictated by the Nations League schedule.
Click here for more information on the new Concacaf Nations League.
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2019 U.S. MNT Schedule Overview |
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|
Dates |
Event |
Location |
Notes |
|
Jan. 6 – Feb. 3 |
January Camp |
Chula Vista, Calif. |
- |
|
Jan. 27 |
MNT vs. Panama |
Glendale, Ariz. |
- |
|
Feb. 2 |
MNT vs. Costa Rica |
San Jose, Calif. |
- |
|
March 18-26 |
FIFA International Window |
TBD |
2 Games |
|
June 3-11 |
FIFA International Window |
TBD |
2 Games |
|
June 15-July 7 |
2019 Concacaf Gold Cup |
USA, Costa Rica, Caribbean Host (TBD) |
Regional Championship |
|
June 18 |
Gold Cup Game 1 vs. TBD |
St. Paul, Minn. |
- |
|
June 22 |
Gold Cup Game 2 vs. TBD |
Cleveland, Ohio |
- |
|
June 26 |
Gold Cup Game 3 vs. TBD |
Kansas City, Kan. |
- |
|
June 30 |
Gold Cup Quarterfinal |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
- |
|
July 3 |
Gold Cup Semifinal |
Nashville, Tenn. |
- |
|
July 7 |
Gold Cup Final |
Chicago, Ill. |
- |
|
Sept. 2-10 |
FIFA International Window |
TBD |
2 Games; Possible Concacaf Nations League |
|
Oct. 7-15 |
FIFA International Window |
TBD |
2 Games; Possible Concacaf Nations League |
|
Nov. 11-19 |
FIFA International Window |
TBD |
2 Games; Possible Concacaf Nations League |