USA Faces Panama in Tense Concacaf Nations League Semifinal Showdown

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States men’s national soccer team will face Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at SoFi Stadium. The Americans, led by head coach Mauricio Pochettino, enter the match as the clear favorites, seeking their fourth consecutive final appearance.

Panama, on the other hand, is on the hunt for their first-ever championship in this competition. Under the guidance of coach Thomas Christiansen, Panama aims to make history, knowing they have nothing to lose in this high-pressure match.

Both teams have a rich history of encounters, with the United States winning 18 of the 28 matches played between them, while Panama has managed to secure victory just three times. Most recently, the US defeated Panama 2-0 in a friendly in October 2024.

The American squad arrives at this semifinal with considerable momentum, having gone undefeated in their last four matches with victories against Jamaica (1-0, 4-2), Venezuela (3-1), and Costa Rica (3-0). This run has rekindled confidence in the team, which is eager to reclaim their title after winning the previous three editions of the tournament.

Conversely, Panama is struggling, with no wins in their last three matches, having drawn 2-2 with Costa Rica, lost 2-1 to Universitario Deportes, and suffered a damaging 6-1 defeat against Chile. The pressure is mounting for Christiansen’s squad as they aim to break their negative streak.

The projected starting lineups for the match are as follows:

United States: Matt Turner; Joe Scally, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann; Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah; Josh Sargent. Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino.

Panama: Orlando Mosquera; Fidel Escobar, Edgardo Fariña, José Córdoba, César Blackman; Aníbal Godoy, Cristian Martínez, Adalberto Carrasquilla, José Rodríguez; Ismael Díaz, José Fajardo. Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen.

The match kicks off at 5:00 PM Central Mexico Time (7:00 PM Eastern Time) and will be available for viewers in the United States on Paramount+, TUDN, Univision NOW, CBS Sports Golazo, and TUDN USA.

In a pre-match press conference, Pochettino emphasized the importance of winning, stating, “We want to win, but our real focus is on the World Cup. Nevertheless, we carry the pressure of representing our country.” Christiansen echoed this sentiment, saying, “Our primary goal is World Cup qualification, but we want to make history here and vie for a spot in the final.”

The anticipation is palpable as both teams prepare for a hard-fought battle to advance to the Concacaf Nations League final.