USA Open Gold Cup vs. Trinidad & Tobago Looking to End Skid and Regain Confidence

The US men’s national team begin their 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign on Sunday, June 15, with a Group D opener against Trinidad & Tobago at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

With just a year to go until they co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT enters this tournament looking to reset after a concerning run of form. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side has lost four straight matches — their worst streak since 2007 — including pre-Gold Cup defeats to Turkey (2-1) and Switzerland (4-0), both Euro 2024 quarterfinalists.

The 26-man roster includes 15 MLS-based players, offering opportunities for emerging names like Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), and strikers Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC). With several top stars unavailable, the focus is on building chemistry and finding answers quickly.

Trinidad & Tobago, ranked 100th by FIFA, will be no pushover. The Soca Warriors feature four MLS players, including Jay Fortune, Wayne Frederick, and Dante Sealy — who scored twice in a World Cup qualifier last week. They also boast recent success against the US, with two wins in the last six meetings, including a Nations League shocker in 2023-24.

This matchup could set the tone for Group D, where only the top two teams advance to the quarterfinals. For the USMNT, it’s a must-win clash to restore belief and momentum on the road to 2026.