The U.S. men’s national team’s upcoming January window will conclude against a familiar CONCACAF opponent.
Costa Rica will oppose the USMNT on Jan. 22 in Orlando, Florida, U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday. It will come four days after the Americans open their two-match window against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale.
Both matches will fall outside of a FIFA international window, providing head coach Mauricio Pochettino with the opportunity to examine domestically based players.
“For a long time the January Camp has been an important part of the development of the National Team. It’s a unique opportunity to work with our MLS players closely and then finish with a good challenge against Costa Rica,” Pochettino said. “Orlando has always been an amazing host for U.S. Soccer and we are excited for another chance to play in front of their fans.”
The USMNT holds a 19-17-6 record against Costa Rica, most recently defeating The Ticos 2-1 in World Cup Qualifying back in October 2021.
Both matches will serve as good preparations for the USMNT ahead of the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments. The USMNT will take part in the Nations League semifinals next March.
Striker1,
Here’s what Bournemouth paid for their CBs
Senesi 15 million pounds 2022
Zabaryni 22 million pounds 2023
Huijsen 13 million pounds 2024
Akimboni 2 million pounds 2025
He’s not playing significant minutes anytime soon. They’re buying him as a prospect to either play for their U21 team or loan to League 1. The reason they are only spending 2 million and not planning on using him, he’s not ready. He played 8 MLS games this year for a team that didn’t make the playoffs. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the NT he should be with the U20s which is his level.
JR I know work permit might be a issue. I know they changed the rules in recent years to make it easier. I feel they will loan him out. He sould be in camp cupcake with the men’s team. That’s why we don’t get prospects like Dempsey, Pulisic, Pope, Bocanegra, and Howard is because we limit our players. Look at Yasmeen Ryan 25 years old first nat team call up, when she should have been called up at 22 or 21. Latin and European countries like Brazil and England give their 17 and 18 year old first team Nats minutes. Theo Walcott from England, Endrick from Brazil. US
Striker1, Endrick is a generational talent, regular starter for league champs, Palmeiras double digit goals at the time of first cap. Akinmboni is a prospect getting spot minutes for a bad team in MLS. They are similar in age but miles away in talent. Same with Pulisic why could he play at 17 for NT because he was starting in the Bundesliga for a top team. Akinmboni if he stays on his trajectory will be a regular for the NT but that doesn’t mean he’s ready now.
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He should have no problem with a permit, rules are more lax post Brexit. But he won’t play for Bournemouth’s first team because they have better players that they paid significantly more for. Chris Richards fights for minutes at Palace a much worse team in EPL. A 18 yr old that can’t play for DC is going to play at top 10 Bournemouth, no way.
Matai Akiboni 18 year old center American from DC United center back signing to EPL Bournmouth. JR where yu at Ream gotta go would rather throw this kid in gauntlet alongside CB’s Banks and Cobb.
Wrll looks like Balogun is going to be out for awhile. Surgery on his shoulder. Pepi looks to be the guy for March. Wright will be back from injury soon. Don’t know Sargents time table and Vazquez looks set to leave Monterrey and will be in MLS again with San Jose.
Hopefully Pepi stays injury free.
i like a 2 game window like we used to do. couple games reduces the “fluke” problem. the earlier dates suggest a shorter, 1-2 week camp.
i looked up german schedules and though it’s moved earlier, the german league is back in business 1/10 so we likely won’t get anyone unless they are age groupers. not even bench rookies if they dress first team.
the opposition will give a good contest, though i am not sure if that is wise. it’s an off window game but a lot of venezuela’s NT guys seem like domestics or americas players in the southern summer as opposed to europeans with window problems. CR lost to panama in the quarters of NL but will probably have more of an access issue. but so will we.
do we not know how to schedule some “fluff” so we can evaluate talent and execute scheme? the “Ls” the last 2 winter windows were more useful at uncovering who “not to call again” as opposed to who to “bring back.”
Yep. My guess Beandon Vazquez will be the starting striker for this window. He is looking set to sign with San Jose.
May see some youngsters. Hard to say who gets the call. May see some u20 players on this roster.
Luna is a priority for this camp. His skill set would be good in one of those two 10 spots.
Tolkin may be sold to a European team.
I think Jackson Reagan should get a look at CB.
Jalen Neal should be called up. Yes he lost his spot fir the Galaxy down the stretch, but he still has very good upside and potential and will look to get his spot back for the Galaxy.
It will be interesting to see Pochetrinos roster. I think it will be a mix of vets and young players. Long lay offs in the winter for the northern European countries will be interesting to see if he tries to get a couple of those guys
Generally teams in Europe are traveling to Spain or Qatar or some other warm areas to play friendlies and most are back in session by Mid-January.
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Just transfer season rumor but Leeds is said to be interested in Diego. Maybe not to Elland Road but I don’t know that Diego will state be stateside by the time the friendlies arrive.
2tone: the German comment was in response to IV.
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Not really any prospects in Northern Europe these days. Rodgers has dropped to second division. Jose Gallegos comes off the bench in Denmark, Amon has 2g this season in Denmark, Cappis is a spot starter, Che still hasn’t played after knee surgery last spring. Like Bello doesn’t play until Feb 2, but they have Salzburg that day and potentially Conference League knockouts a week and a half later so I don’t see them releasing a regular starter.
There’s a reason those guys are available in January. They likely aren’t going to challenge for first team spots. Even the top MLS players have skipped January camp with February CL and late February MLS matches.
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That’s adorable you thought German teams would release first teamers for a camp outside the window. I guess Llanez was playing U19 in 2019 but only missed one match because they didn’t restart U19s until February. Sometimes you get players like Rodgers from Scandinavia that are on similar schedules to MLS but rarely a top 10 league (Rodgers of course now playing in Norwegian 2nd division). The last actual pro I think would be Bobby Wood who had problems at Munich and wasn’t dressing for a couple months so he came in 2015 January camp to facilitate a move. Reyna’s situation seems pretty stable and he’s getting regular minutes off the bench so playing Venezuela or Costa Rica B teams isn’t going to help Dortmund move him. Campbell maybe if everyone else gets healthy since BvB II can’t earn promotion to 2Bundesliga, but still unlikely they’d release if they don’t have to.
I never said Germany. I stated northern European leagues who have long layoffs i.e Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Which we have gotten some of those guys in the past.
Good on Luna if it happens.
Bundesliga has roughly a two week break. Denmark has already started their winter beak and won’t resume until February. FYI
JR,
“Reyna’s situation seems pretty stable and he’s getting regular minutes off the bench so playing Venezuela or Costa Rica B teams isn’t going to help Dortmund move him. ”
Regardless of everything that has gone on before it should be obvious that:
1. Sahin is going to give Gio every chance to prove himself relevant for the rest of the season. Right now, Gio is damaged goods. He’s better off than Mason Mount but no way BVB get anything near what Gio could be worth to BVB if he makes a comeback.
2. BVB could really use him if he gets back to anywhere near his best. Right now, no way BVB let Gio or Campbell anywhere near Cupcake.
3. European qualification of any kind doesn’t look good right now, so Sahin looks like he’s on the hot seat.
IV ,
“the “Ls” the last 2 winter windows were more useful at uncovering who “not to call again” as opposed to who to “bring back.”
Names?
Who in the last 2 Cupcakes were you expecting to “bring back”?
Finding out who “not to call again” is very useful.