Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
In the second round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage, Saudi Arabia will face off against the United States. The match will take place in Austin in the early hours of Friday, June 20. Kick-off is scheduled for 03:15 Central European Time. I’m offering a prediction on the winner of this clash.
Match preview
Saudi Arabia are an unusual participant at the Gold Cup, invited as part of the tournament’s expanded format. Their squad is mainly composed of players from the domestic league, which boasts higher intensity and quality than most of their tournament rivals.
Notably, however, coach Renard’s side is quite vulnerable at the back, especially against teams that play at a high tempo. In their opening match, the Saudis predictably edged out Haiti thanks to a precise penalty by Al-Shehri.
In that game, the Asian side were clear favorites but didn’t look much better than their modest opponents. The clash against the United States will be a different story, as Pochettino’s men are widely regarded as a stronger team.
Reaching the playoffs would be a good outcome for Saudi Arabia. In this context, the match against the Americans isn’t decisive, since they’ll wrap up the group stage against Trinidad and Tobago, who lost to the USA in the opening round.
The United States are the favorites here and one of the main contenders to win the tournament. The Americans come into this Gold Cup cycle with a refreshed yet potent squad, blending young MLS talents with promising European-based players.
Mauricio Pochettino can’t count on his marquee stars like Pulisic, Weah, Musah, and McKennie, but even so, the US team looks formidable.
In the first round, they produced a confident attacking display, easily breaking down Trinidad and Tobago’s defense with rapid ball movement and slick wing play. PSV’s Malik Tillman scored twice, while Agyemang, Aaronson, and Wright each added a goal.
The emphatic 5-0 win cemented the USA’s status as tournament favorites. Victory in the next match will guarantee them top spot in the group and a place in the quarterfinals, where they’re likely to face Costa Rica or Mexico.
Match facts
- The USA have suffered four defeats in their last five matches.
- Saudi Arabia have lost just once in six games in 2025.
- Saudi Arabia average 1.2 goals per game, while the USA average 1.4 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Saudi Arabia: Al-Aqeedi, Abdulrahman, Madhu, Al-Amri, Abdulhamid, Al-Hassan, Al-Ghamdi, Al-Johani, Al-Hammami, Al-Oboud, Al-Shehri.
- USA: Freese, Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten, Berhalter, de la Torre, Tillman, Luna, McGlynn, Agyemang.
H2H
These teams have faced each other three times: one draw and one win apiece.
Prediction
The USA look like clear favorites with a strong attacking line and a results-oriented approach. Saudi Arabia are shaky at the back but can strike on the counter. There’s a noticeable gulf in class. The Americans are playing at home, have a deeper squad, and are determined to clinch early qualification from the group. Expect an open game from them, just as we saw against Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t see much hope for Saudi Arabia here, so my tip is to back Pochettino’s men for the win.
