The United States men begin their run-up to the 2024 Copa America with an international friendly of the utmost importance against Colombia on Saturday just outside the nation’s capital.
Gregg Berhalter and the USMNT players insist that building toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the ultimate goal, but this summer will feature a heavy focus on results over process knowing they must learn how to win against top teams regardless of how it comes to pass.
With friendlies against Colombia and Brazil as their pair of warm-up matches before the Copa America begins July 19, it will be of the utmost importance to put in a quality shift against a pair of top national teams.
Colombia will present a monumental challenge, on a 21-game unbeaten streak that dates back to before their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They have reversed their fortunes entirely under head coach Nestor Lorenzo, who has brought renewed life to a floundering national team side, including a win over Brazil in World Cup qualifying plus a recent victory over Spain in a friendly earlier this year.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs. Colombia match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs. Colombia live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Colombia | – | – |
Kickoff: 5:37 p.m. ET / 2:37 p.m. PT
Location: Commanders Field (Landover, MD)
Starting lineups (predicted):
USA (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) — Scally, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson — Musah, Reyna, McKennie — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
Colombia (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vargas (GK) — Munoz, Cuesta, Lucumi, Mojica — Castano, Lerma — Arias, Carrascal, Diaz — Duran
USA vs. Colombia live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 30 mins to kick: The biggest question for the U.S. men heading into the Copa America is how they will replace injured right-back Sergino Dest. None of the options are inspiring, but we will get an idea of what Gregg Berhalter is thinking in this match.
Berhalter told the media in his pre-match press conference that they will trial multiple options in these two friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, confirming that natural right-back Joe Scally will get a chance, but that they will “take it game-by-game and opponent by opponent” both in the friendlies and throughout the Copa America.
Scally has not been very good in recent USMNT appearances and had a rocky club season with Gladbach, so it’s possible Tim Weah could be moved back or another option given a look. Sounds like the situation will be quite fluid.
Gregg Berhalter says they will “try different looks” with regards to the #USMNT right-back situation. They will “give the natural right-backs a chance” but will also “take it game-by-game and opponent by opponent.”
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) June 7, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Another player who looked to walk back the narrative and put renewed importance on the results this summer is veteran defender Tim Ream, who at 36 years old remains a strong candidate to start matches for the USMNT this summer.
Ream told SiriusXM FC that regardless of the overarching push towards 2026, the goal this summer is to win the Copa America. He boldly proclaimed, “if you’re not going to try and win the whole thing, just don’t even show up.” Strong words from the host nation.
“If you’re not going to try win the whole thing, then just don’t even show up.”
The goal at Copa America is clear for @USMNT Defender Tim Ream 💪 pic.twitter.com/tTlgGIqoax
— SiriusXM FC (@SiriusXMFC) June 8, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: Throughout this entire summer camp, both USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter and his players have all been consistent in their message that a strong Copa America performance is not a standalone goal for U.S. Soccer, but instead a means to continue building towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Amidst questions asking whether that mindset minimized the Copa America results too much, Berhalter looked to put that prevalent theme in context heading into this game.
Berhalter says “the Copa America is essential to the growth of this team” with regards to building towards the 2026 World Cup.
Lotta players have repeated the Copa isn’t the end-all be-all, but the build towards 2026 is the ultimate goal. So this was a bit of pushback to that
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) June 7, 2024
USA vs. Colombia pre-match facts, figures
- Colombia are in the midst of a 21-match unbeaten streak that dates to early 2022, following a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
- In 21 all-time meetings against Colombia, the U.S. men have won just three times, the last being a 3-0 friendly win in 2005. Since that victory, the United States have failed to win in any of their last seven against Colombia.
- Argentina head coach Nestor Lorenzo has not been beaten in any of his 18 games in charge of Colombia, installed in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
USA vs. Colombia lineups, team news
There is one injury concern for the United States as Josh Sargent is still nursing his foot injury from the end of the club season with Norwich City. Gregg Berhalter confirmed he will not be available for today’s match, and his availability for the Copa America may be in question.
The biggest question mark for Berhalter heading into this competition is who will replace injured Sergino Dest at right-back. Joe Scally is the best option from a like-for-like perspective, but Scally has struggled at times in a USMNT shirt. He will almost surely be given a chance to earn the role in one of the two pre-match friendlies, but there are other options, including playing Tim Weah at right-back.
While there will be some experimentation at a few positions in these warmup friendlies, Berhatler will almost surely avoid experimentation in other areas, preferring to get his starters time to gel before the competition itself begins.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Scally, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson — Musah, Reyna, McKennie — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
USA subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
A choice between veteran goalkeepers David Ospina and Camilo Vargas will likely result in the latter being given the nod, as he’s been the starter through Ospina’s lengthy injury absence.
Famed forward James Rodriguez has declined at 32 years old and may not be a locked-in starter for the Copa America. He has completed only two full 90-minute performances for Colombia since the start of 2022, with 12 starts and four substitute appearances in 24 matches throughout that time. Rodriguez has been dealing with a muscle injury of late, so he could be an option off the bench in this match to keep him fit.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz is, however, a regular in the national team side now. He has just four goals and three assists for the national team since the start of 2022, but two of the goals came in the famous 2-1 win over Brazil in World Cup qualifying last November.
Colombia projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Vargas (GK) — Munoz, Cuesta, Lucumi, Mojica — Castano, Lerma — Arias, Carrascal, Diaz — Duran
Colombia subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch USA vs. Colombia
- Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT
- English:
- TV: TNT
- Streaming: Sling, Max
- Spanish:
- TV: Universo
- Streaming: Fubo
The match between the United States and Colombia will be broadcast domestically on TNT, who have the rights to U.S. Soccer matches not affiliated with any competitive environment, usually friendlies. TNT is available to stream on Sling.
There is also a Spanish-language broadcast on Universo, which can be streamed on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new users.
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