The USMNT will take the field for the side’s last competitive test before this summer’s Copa America as they take on Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals on Thursday.
The winner will face either Mexico or Panama in the finals on Sunday, while the losers of both matches will also meet in the third-place game.
Gregg Berhalter has, arguably for the first time in years, the healthiest first-choice side at his disposal. Midfielder and captain Tyler Adams is fit and with the team for the first time since the World Cup, while Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are both in exceptional form at the club level.
Jamaica have also qualified for the Copa America by way of their place in this match, but unlike the United States, the Reggae Boyz sport a side lacking many key players because of injury or suspension.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Jamaica match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
MORE: Tracking every Christian Pulisic goal and assist with AC Milan this season
USA vs Jamaica live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Jamaica | – | – |
Kickoff: 6 p.m. local (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Referee: Selvin Brown (HND)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 19. Scally, 3. C. Richards, 12. M. Robinson, 5. A. Robinson — 8. McKennie, 6. Musah — 21. Weah, 17. Tillman, 10. Pulisic — 20. Balogun.
Jamaica (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Blake (GK) — 2. Lembikisa, 6. Bernard, 17. D. Lowe, 3. Hector, 22. Leigh — 10. De Cordova-Reid, 14. Palmer, 15. Latibeaudiere, 19. J. Lowe — 20. Cephas.
USA vs Jamaica live updates, highlights, commentary
45 mins to kickoff: The U.S. lineup is in, and there are a few surprises. Malik Tillman and Miles Robinson all start over Gio Reyna and Tim Ream. Sergino Dest is suspended, replaced by Joe Scally. It’s a 50th cap for Weston McKennie at just 25 years old.
1 hour to kickoff: We continue to await lineups from Arlington, but one USMNT player who will surely be starting is Weston McKennie, who has been exceptional at the club level this season, with his hard work has impressing Gregg Berhalter. His performances on the field are the culmination of true faith in his own abilities, Berhalter says, as McKennie returned this past offseason from a failed loan spell at Leeds to a situation that would have seen most players bail for a new home.
”We can’t say enough about Weston and his growth over the last years,” Berhalter said. “Weston was in a situation where he went back to Juventus after the summer and he didn’t have a locker, and he didn’t have a parking spot. Most players would say ‘ok I’m done I’m leaving this club, it’s not for me,’ and Weston said ‘I’m going to dig in and prove that I belong.’”
McKennie stuck it out, and he’s proven vital to Juventus. He has become undroppable for head coach Massimiliano Allegri, with 29 starts on the year and nine assists across all competitions. McKennie has yet to score a goal, but that’s far from what his duties entail.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: There is turmoil within the Jamaica camp. In-form Aston Villa playmaker Leon Bailey was suspended for this international break by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson for a curfew violation, and while the boss said he will be available for selection in the Copa America this summer, Bailey responded by saying he will step away from international duty.
Bailey said the Jamaica federation is organized in a “very unprofessional” manner, has equipment issues, and claims “I don’t remember the last time I received a dollar from the national team.” One disciplined player’s opinion on the subject isn’t exactly gospel, but there are definitely questions to be asked of the federation.
Leon Bailey announces he will step away from the Jamaican National Team for the time being.
Cites economic challenges faced by players, the need for structural reforms within 🇯🇲 football administration.
pic.twitter.com/Faq1YN70jO
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 21, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: While a record number of Americans have scored in Europe this season, there’s nobody having quite the season that Christian Pulisic is. The 25-year-old has logged 20 goal contributions for AC Milan, leading the club across all competitions, and he has bagged a goal in four straight games for the first time in his professional career. Before this streak, he’d never even had three in a row — entering the international break in scorching hot form.
We’ve backed him to find the net tonight as well, you can access our predictions for this match by clicking here.
FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A GOAL FOR CHRISTIAN PULISIC 😤
RAHHHH 🦅🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zyV7ASDssO
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: With fitness often comes form, and many U.S. are experiencing that this season. A record 12 American internationals have scored at least one goal in Europe’s top five leagues this campaign. Christian Pulisic leads the way as AC Milan’s leading goal scorer, while Folarin Balogun leads the line for AS Monaco in France.
The surprising part is that a number of defenders have contributed to the total as well, including Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Joe Scally, and John Brooks. Johnny Cardoso (video below) and Luca de la Torre have also found the net from midfield, in what is becoming quite the season for the U.S. in Europe.
💚🌟 ¡Así se celebra tu primer gol en #LALIGAEASPORTS! #LALIGAHighlights | @RealBetis pic.twitter.com/Y4GeJXCkKz
— LALIGA (@LaLiga) February 25, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: Gregg Berhalter has not had this level of squad availability in a very long time. Tyler Adams is back, and while he’s expected to play limited minutes as they ease him back into action after a long injury layoff, Berhalter spoke about the importance of simply reintegrating the captain back into the side.
“We know he’s not going to be a starter in these two games, but can we get him back with this group,” Berhalter told CBS Sports while revealing the March squad. “Chemistry, leadership … he brings both of those things, so can we get him back and playing some minutes.”
Later, in his media availability, Berhalter repeated the same. “They think at [Bournemouth] that he has enough to play 45 minutes for us, so once we heard that, we jumped at that idea because he means so much to the team on and off the field. It’ll be nice to get him back.”
“This was the hardest roster we’ve ever had to pick.”@USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter opens up about the U.S.’s @CNationsLeague roster, Copa America and a matchup with Thierry’s France squad at the Olympics 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IhPzGx52Rv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 13, 2024
USA vs Jamaica lineups, team news
It has been a long time since Gregg Berhalter has enjoyed a USMNT with this clean bill of health. Most notably, captain Tyler Adams is back with the squad for the first time in over a year, finally healthy from his long bout with hamstring issues.
Adams is not quite ready to start, having only just returned for Bournemouth, but Berhalter said he is rated for 30-45 minutes, while the player claimed he can go 60 minutes if required. They’re understandably taking it slowly after an arduous recovery with multiple setbacks.
MORE: The full USMNT roster for March 2024 international matches in CONCACAF Nations League
The only players out injured are the two who withdrew from the squad: midfielder Luca de la Torre and forward Josh Sargent. Otherwise, only fringe striker Daryl Dike was unavailable for selection. The entire first-choice XI should be ready to start, outside of Sergino Dest who is in the squad but suspended for the first match thanks to his red card in the last Nations League game.
USA starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Turner (GK) — Scally, C. Richards, M. Robinson, A. Robinson — McKennie, Musah — Weah, Tillman, Pulisic — Balogun.
USA subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Jamaica are missing a number of key players in a very weakened squad. Most notably, in-form Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is not with the team after he was disciplined by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson for a curfew breach last camp.
Also absent for Jamaica are Michail Antonio (withdrew, undisclosed), Ethan Pinnock (injured, ankle), and Amari’i Bell (injured, hamstring), plus Demarai Gray who is in the squad but unavailable for this match after a red card in the quarterfinals left him suspended.
Another notable absentee is 18-year-old Sheffield Wednesday striker Bailey Cadamarteri, who was called up to the squad but chose instead to accept an invite to the England U-19 squad as he delays his international committment.
Jamaica starting lineup (5-4-1): Blake (GK) — Lembihisa, Bernard, D. Lowe, Hector, Leigh — De Cordova-Reid, Palmer, Latibeaudiere, J. Lowe — Cephas.
Jamaica subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch USA vs Jamaica
- Date: Thursday, Mar. 21
- Time: 6 p.m. local CT (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
- TV channel (English): None
- Streaming (English): Paramount+
- TV channel (Spanish): Univision
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, Univision Now
CONCACAF English-language broadcast rights in the United States are owned by CBS Sports, who will air this USMNT match exclusively on Paramount+, where you can watch every match of the Nations League semifinals, finals, and third place match during this March international break.
The matches, including this one, will also be televised in Spanish on Univision, which is available to stream in the United States on Fubo, offering a free trial for new users.
MORE: Watch UEFA Champions League in the United States on Paramount+
