USMNT vs. Costa Rica: Starting XI and Lineup Notes

On By Littum

SET-UP NOTES
USMNT vs. Costa Rica
International friendly
22 January 2024
Inter&Co Stadium; Orlando, Fla.
Pregame Coverage: 6:30 PM ET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock and Fútbol de Primera Radio.
Social media: @USMNT on X and Instagram; american football on Facebookthe american football app

Today’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Costa Rica: 22-Zack Steffen; 12-Miles Robinson, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 5-DeJuan Jones; 14-Emeka Eneli, 6-Benjamin Cremaschi; 19-Indiana Vassilev, 10-Diego Luna, 17-Brian Gutiérrez; 8-Brian White

Substitutes: 1-Patrick Schulte, 21-Matt Freese, 7-Patrick Agyemang, 11-Matko Miljevic, 15-Max Arfsten, 16-Jack McGlynn, 18-Shaq Moore, 20-George Campbell, 23-Caden Clark

GAME NOTES | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COSTA RICA

  • USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Tim Ream (67), Walker Zimmerman (43), Miles Robinson (32), Zack Steffen (30), DeJuan Jones (10), Benjamin Cremaschi (3), Diego Luna ( 3), Brian White (3), Emeka Eneli (2), Brian Gutiérrez (2), Indiana Vassilev (2).
  • Mauricio Pochettino makes eight changes from the line-up that started Saturday’s game against Venezuela, keeping defender Miles Robinson and midfielders Benjamin Cremaschi and Brian Gutiérrez.
  • Tonight’s lineup has an average age of 26 years, 308 days, marking the oldest Starting XI for a USMNT early-year friendly since the lineup that faced Japan on February 10, 2006 in San Francisco (27 years, 332 days).
  • The squad also has an average of 17 caps.
  • Robinson makes his first international start at right-back, making way for veteran centre-backs Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, who pair up for the first time since the round of 16 against the Netherlands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Ream and Zimmerman collaborated centrally in three of the four American games in Qatar.
  • Captaining the USMNT for the 14th time tonight, Ream will also earn his 67th cap, matching the career total of other St. Louis native and 1994 World Championship veteran Mike Sorber.
  • Goalkeeper Zack Steffen will get his first cap since March 30, 2022 in Costa Rica, the final game of the USA’s successful run in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. The 29-year-old also becomes the eighth USMNT goalkeeper to reach 30 caps.
  • Robinson and Zimmerman also appeared with Steffen in the 2022 qualifying final, which was also the last meeting between the United States and Costa Rica.
  • Emeka Eneli and Indiana Vassilev earn their first starts for the USMNT tonight.
  • With Eneli and Luna in the lineup, Real Salt Lake leads the list of 10 MLS clubs represented in tonight’s Starting XI and is joined by Charlotte FC (Ream), Chicago Fire (Gutiérrez), FC Cincinnati (Robinson), Colorado Rapids (Steffen), Columbus Crew (Jones), Inter Miami (Cremaschi), Nashville SC (Zimmerman), St. Louis CITY (Vassilev), Vancouver Whitecaps (White).
  • Eight starters are products of the US Soccer Development Academy, with five developed by MLS clubs: Benja Cremaschi (Weston FC, Inter Miami), Emeka Eneli (Columbus Crew), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Diego Luna (San Jose Earthquakes), Miles Robinson (FC Boston Bolts), Zack Steffen (Philadelphia Union, FC DELCO), Indiana Vassilev (IMG Academy), Brian White (Players Development Academy).
  • The USA is 19W-17L-6D in 42 all-time meetings with Costa Rica.