USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago Preview
Gold Cup begins for MNT
The USMNT is an absolute disgrace right now. They have lost four straight games for the first time in 18 years. First was a pair of ugly, disinterested losses against Panama and Canada in the Nations League. Then was a loss to Turkey, despite the US taking the lead in the first minute on a great strike from Jack McGlynn. Most recently was an utterly shambolic performance in Nashville on Tuesday, before a crowd of 20,602. Switzerland scored early, then scored again, and again, and again. Belief in, and support of, the USMNT is at what feels like an all-time low. Now, it feels like the only like that can even remotely instill some small measure of faith in this team is to win the Gold Cup. That journey begins on Sunday against Trinidad & Tobago in San Jose.
As has been the main talking point since March, the effort of US players was again the topic of discussion following Tuesday’s loss to Switzerland. To be down 4-0 after half an hour almost defies belief. But that’s where the US found themselves. Mauricio Pochettino made a slew of changes in the second half, none of which made much of a difference as the US was every bit as toothless in the attack as they had been in the first half. Not even Diego Luna, a new US fan-favorite, was able to make much of a difference. It has reached a point where doubt is beginning to creep in about whether this US team is even capable of reaching the Gold Cup semifinals.
2025 has been a mixed bag for Trinidad & Tobago. Through six games they have three wins and three losses. The wins came twice against Cuba to qualify for the Gold Cup and against St. Kitts & Nevis in World Cup Qualifying. Their losses have come against Jamaica, Ghana, and Costa Rica. The Socca Warriors were just drawn into Group B of the third round of World Cup qualifying alongside Jamaica, Curacao, and Bermuda. The group winner will qualify for the World Cup while the group runner-up will go into a playoff. Head coach Dwight Yorke has called in a squad with a ton of US based players, many of whom are in the lower divisions of American soccer. These include goalkeeper Denzil Smith of AV Alta in USL League One, defender Noah Powder of Westchester SC in USL League One, and midfielders Nathaniel James and Real Gill of Portland Hearts of Pine in USL League One and Huntsville City in MLS Next Pro, respectively.
When, Where
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Stadium: PayPal Park
City: San Jose, CA
Time: 6pm ET
TV: FOX
All-Time Series
USA leads 22-4-4
Last Meeting
Date: Monday, June 20, 2023
Stadium: Hasely Crawford Stadium
City: Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Result: USA 1-2 Trinidad & Tobago
Current FIFA Ranking
USA: 16
Trinidad & Tobago: 100
Next Game
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Competition: Gold Cup group stage
Match-Up: USA vs. Saudi Arabia
Stadium: Q2 Stadium
City: Austin, TX
Time: 9:15pm ET
TV: FS1
Photo Credit: Devcon Construction