US Men’s National Team to Face Ghana in Series Finale at GEODIS Park on October 17

CHICAGO (Oct. 16, 2023) — The U.S. Men’s National Team is set to conclude its October schedule with a highly anticipated match against Ghana. The fifth meeting between these two teams in series history will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at GEODIS Park in Nashville. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET and the match will be broadcasted live on popular networks such as TNT, MAX, Peacock, and Universo. Spanish-language audio coverage for both matches will be available on Futbol de Primera. Fans can also stay updated on the matches through social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT, and the official U.S. Soccer App.

As the USMNT continues its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it will face a formidable Ghana team that has qualified for four out of the last five world championships. Interestingly, three of the four previous encounters between these teams have taken place during World Cup tournaments.

Detailed Roster by Position

GOALKEEPERS (2): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 34/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 13/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 29/2), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 2/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 13/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 26/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 8/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 17/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 47/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 30/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 21/4)

FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 35/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 5/2), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 19/9), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 63/27), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 34/5), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1)

Note: The club/country and caps/goals information has been provided for each player.

The October roster showcases a sense of continuity, with 18 out of the 23 players having featured in Gregg Berhalter’s squad last month during consecutive shutout victories against Uzbekistan and Oman. Furthermore, 13 players on the roster contributed to the USMNT’s Round of 16 appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while 15 players were part of the squad that won the Concacaf Nations League title in June.

Prevailing Rivalry with the Black Stars

The USMNT and Ghana have faced each other four times, with two wins and two losses for each team. Notably, three of these matches took place during previous World Cup tournaments. Their first encounter was in the group stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where Ghana triumphed with a 2-1 victory. The two teams met again in the Round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, resulting in a 2-1 defeat for the United States. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT secured their first win against Ghana with a score of 2-1. The most recent meeting occurred in 2017, where the U.S. emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline.

Note: Details about the goals and significant moments in each match have been provided.

Musah’s Ghanaian Roots and USMNT Pride

Yunus Musah has a unique connection to Ghana, as he is of Ghanaian descent. Although born in New York City while his mother was visiting, Musah grew up in Italy and England, making him eligible to represent all four countries internationally. Eventually, he committed to playing for the United States in March 2021. At just 20 years and 319 days old, Musah became the fourth USMNT player to earn 30 caps before his 21st birthday. His achievement is particularly noteworthy, as he stands as the third youngest player to reach this milestone.

Nashville’s Hospitality

The USMNT is no stranger to Nashville, often referred to as Music City. The team has enjoyed success in the city, compiling a record of 4 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws across multiple competitions. Notably, in 2009, Jozy Altidore became the youngest U.S. player to score a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup Qualifying match. In more recent years, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie have found the back of the net in matches against Mexico and Jamaica, respectively.

Scoring Leaders

Several players on the USMNT roster have made significant contributions in terms of goal-scoring in 2023. Ricardo Pepi leads the team with 6 goals, followed closely by Christian Pulisic with 5 goals. Other goal-scorers include Brenden Aaronson, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, and Tim Weah.

Club Connections

The roster features four sets of teammates from European clubs, including PSV Eindhoven (Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi), AC Milan (Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic), Juventus (Weston McKennie, Tim Weah), and Nottingham Forest (Ethan Horvath, Matt Turner). These partnerships highlight the cohesion and chemistry within the USMNT squad.

Gregg Berhalter: Familiar Face, Accomplished Coach

Gregg Berhalter, who played for the USA at a FIFA World Cup, resumed his role as head coach last month after being re-hired in June 2023. With a record of 39 wins, 12 losses, and 12 draws in 63 matches, Berhalter has had a successful tenure. He guided the team to back-to-back confederation championships in 2021, winning the inaugural Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup. Berhalter’s strategic approach and ability to lead a young roster have been instrumental in the USMNT’s recent achievements, including qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and reaching the Round of 16.

Additional Roster Facts

The average age of the roster on matchday will be 24 years and 136 days, while the average number of caps per player is 21. Eighteen players were part of the USMNT’s September camp. The roster includes 13 players who represented the USA at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 15 players who contributed to the team’s success in the Concacaf Nations League. Christian Pulisic leads the way with 63 appearances, followed by Tim Ream, Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, Matt Turner, and Tim Weah.

Interesting enough, the 23 players on the roster currently play their club soccer in 10 different countries, including Germany, Italy, England, Netherlands, USA, Brazil, France, and Mexico.

Reference