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Here’s our prediction for the USMNT starting XI vs. Jamaica for March’s Nations League semifinal

By David Moore February 28, 2024
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A hard question at striker and a new face in the midfield.
The18

The United States men’s national team will face Jamaica on March 21 in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals. With the game about three weeks away we’re ready for a USMNT starting XI prediction.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will be deploying his A-team as the U.S. look to win a third-straight Concacaf Nations League and prepare for this summer’s Copa América.

Here’s a look at our USMNT starting XI prediction for March.

USMNT Starting XI vs Jamaica Prediction

USMNT Starting XI vs Jamaica prediction

Let’s go through the formation by positions.

Goalkeeper

Despite Matt Turner losing the starting job at Nottingham Forest he’s still the clear favorite for the USMNT. Ethan Horvath is on loan at Cardiff City getting some action and Zack Steffen is with the Colorado Rapids now (conceding four in his first game).

Defense

Chris Richards, who recently scored his first Premier League goal, has become a mainstay in Crystal Palace’s starting lineup. Next to him for the USMNT should be Tim Ream who returned from a calf injury that saw him miss most of December and January.

Antonee Robinson has been the best left back in the Premier League this season with the most interceptions and it’s not even close. He also helps in attack and has six assists this season for Fulham. He's a lock at left back for the USMNT.

Sergiño Dest won’t start as he’s serving a red card suspension for his temper tantrum vs. Trinidad and Tobago. Filling in will be Joe Scally who has started 22 of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 26 games this season. He’s played right back for 13 of those games.

Midfield

Gio Reyna is having a season to forget as his loan from Dortmund to Nottingham Forest has only seen him go from one bench to another. His talent and capabilities in a USMNT shirt still earn him a starting role for the national team.

Weston McKennie will be racing to recover in time for the Nations League semifinal after he dislocated his shoulder during a Serie A game on Feb. 25. He’ll miss several games for Juventus as he recovers and will hopefully be available for the national team in March.

Rounding out the midfield will be rising star Johnny Cardoso. The 22-year-old has only started one game for the USMNT but has been sensational for Real Betis since his January transfer. Starting Cardoso would mean benching Yunus Musah, however Cardoso has been too good not to give him the start.

Attack

Christian Pulisic is a no-brainer to start. Captain America is having one of his best seasons of his career with AC Milan and shows no signs of slowing.

On the right-wing Timothy Weah will enjoy playing in a more forward role. For Juventus he’s been having to play a more defensive wingback role that doesn’t quite fit his style. There have been rumors that Juventus are thinking of letting him go in the summer. Despite his struggles he’s still the go-to option at right wing for the U.S.

The striker situation is worth an article of its own. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent are all making strong cases for the starting job. (Not to mention Haji Wright and Jordan Pefok are also playing well.)

We predict that Gregg Berhlater will stick with what he’s been doing the past months and stay with Balogun as the starting striker and Pepi on the bench. Balogun hasn’t been as electric in Ligue 1 this season as he was last year but has still produced some moments of class.

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