USMNT Set To Take On Asian Cup Qualifiers Uzbekistan And Oman This September

USA to Face Uzbeks on Sept. 9 at CITYPARK in St. Louis; USMNT Returns to Allianz Field on Sept. 12

The U.S. Men’s National Team will take on a pair of Asian Football Confederation opponents when they welcome Uzbekistan and Oman during the September international window. Both teams are preparing to compete in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Qatar next January.

The U.S. first faces Uzbekistan on Sept. 9 in St. Louis, with kickoff at CITYPARK set for 5:30 p.m. ET (TNT, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock). Three days later, the USA takes on Oman at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT, Universo and Peacock). Live Spanish-language audio for both matches will be available live on Fútbol de Primera radio platforms.

The matches fall during on an international fixture date, which means all players will be available for selection.

With the crowded schedule of competitions for the next three years in Asia, this likely represents the only opportunity for the USMNT to face opponents from the AFC prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These are the USA’s first matches against Uzbekistan and Oman, marking the 101^st and 102^nd opponents in USMNT history.

“We are very intentional and committed to presenting different challenges to our team during the next three years as we continue to develop the program,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Uzbekistan and Oman are first-time opponents for us and both are preparing for the AFC Asian Cup, so we expect them to be good tests. We look forward to visiting two excellent soccer facilities and performing in front of the fantastic supporters in St. Louis and the Twin Cities.”

TICKETS

Presales for the matches will begin Wednesday, Jul. 5, with the public sale beginning on Thurs., Jul. 13. 

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VISA PRESALE

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AGAINST THE AFC
The September international window presents a rare opportunity to face opponents from the Asian Football Confederation. With the expanded FIFA World Cup format beginning in 2026, eight Asian nations will qualify directly to the World Cup, up from four direct qualifiers at Qatar 2022. The USMNT is 2-1-1 against Asian opposition under head coach Gregg Berhalter, with wins against Qatar at the 2021 Gold Cup and IR Iran at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Uzbekistan is one of the strongest teams in Central Asia, recently finishing runner-up to IR Iran at this summer’s inaugural Central Asian Football Association Nations Cup. The White Wolves have qualified for every AFC Asian Cup since joining the confederation in 1994 and reached the knockout stage of the last five tournaments, including a semifinal appearance in 2011.

Oman took third place at the 2023 CAFA Nations Cup and finished runner-up at January’s Arabian Gulf Cup. Al-Ahmar will be making their third-straight appearance at the Asian Cup for the first time after advancing to the knockout stage for the first time at the last tournament in 2019.

SOCCER CITY

The match against Uzbekistan will be the second for the USMNT at the sparkling new home of St. Louis City SC as well as the second this year. Last night, the U.S. rode a hat trick from 2022 FIFA World Cup veteran forward Jesús Ferreira to a convincing 6-0 victory against St. Kitts and Nevis in Concacaf Gold Cup group play Wednesday night in front of 21,216 fans at CITYPARK.

The USA played in St. Louis for the first back in 1957 and has since compiled a 4-1-3 record. In their most recent appearance, a 79^th-minute goal from Jordan Morris secured a 1-1 draw with then world No. 5-ranked Uruguay in front of 20,625 fans on Sept. 10, 2019 at Busch Stadium.

The U.S. Women’s National Team played the first international match at CITYPARK, a 1-0 victory against Ireland on April 11 earlier this year.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

The USMNT makes its third visit to the home of Minnesota United FC, after two captivating events resulting in consecutive victories, seven goals scored and none conceded.

In 2019, the USMNT opened its 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign in front of a sellout crowd of 19,418 fans at Allianz Field with a 4-0 win against Guyana. Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes scored a goal apiece, while Tyler Boyd notched two, the first of which opened his account with the USA and also marked the 1,000th goal in USMNT history.

Then, on the frigid night of Feb. 2, 2002, the USMNT took an important step towards qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a 3-0 shutout victory against Honduras. The temperature at kickoff of five degrees was the coldest for any match in USMNT history, but the U.S. attack was hot as the Americans dominated throughout the night with midfielder Weston McKennie, defender Walker Zimmerman and forward Christian Pulisic scoring goals off set piece services from midfielder Kellyn Acosta.

The stadium has also been the site of two USWNT friendlies against Portugal in September 2019 and Korea Republic in 2021.