The US men's national team continues Qatar 2022 World Cup preparations when hosting Uruguay on Sunday at Sporting Kansas City's Children's Mercy Park in an international friendly.
The Americans were the better side throughout a 3-0 friendly win over World Cup-bound Morocco in Cincinnati on Wednesday, with Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah and Haji Wright all scoring.
But Uruguay – ranked No. 13 in the FIFA World Rankings, two spots above the USMNT – should offer a step up in class, boasting a roster studded with stars like forward Edinson Cavani (Manchester United), midfielder Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) and defender Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid).
This will be the second of four USMNT games in the two-week June window, with Concacaf Nations League fixtures against Grenada (June 10) and El Salvador (June 14) to follow.
Here's what you need to know about Sunday's visit from La Celeste.
How to watch and stream
- FOX, Univision, TUDN
When
- Sunday, June 5 | 5 pm ET
Where
- Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Head coach Gregg Berhalter had a strong squad at his disposal Wednesday night vs. Morocco, and it showed in an impressive and comprehensive victory against a well-respected African World Cup qualifier.
Aaronson, Weah, Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams all featured in the starting XI – a luxury not always afforded to Berhalter in qualifying due to various injury issues. Weston McKennie came off the bench in his first action for the US since early February after working back from a broken foot.
Wright's goal from the penalty spot in his national team debut gave Berhalter another option to think about in the still-wide-open battle for the center forward role.
Fullback Joe Scally also made his senior international debut, which the New York City FC homegrown product earned after a productive first season with Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. Another debutant was Bayern Munich attacker Malik Tillman, who recently filed a one-time switch of association from Germany.
It's all building toward Group B play in November against England, Iran and one of Ukraine or Wales.
Grading on a curve for size, Uruguay just might be the most impressive footballing nation on the planet.
With a population of 3.5 million, Uruguay have been a perennial World Cup contender since they hosted and won the first edition of the tournament in 1930. They haven't won it all since 1950, but they've finished fourth three times since (most recently in 2010) and reached the quarterfinals on two more occasions, including in 2018 in Russia.
The current squad remains a talented one with players dotting the rosters of top clubs throughout Europe, but is also one in transition. Five of their most-used players during the marathon that is Conmebol World Cup Qualifying are over the age of 30, including center back Diego Godin and striker Luis Suarez. (The latter has been left out of the June camp to focus on a likely move to a new club.)
There are also two faces familiar to MLS fans.
Former Inter Miami CF manager Diego Alonso was hired in December following a four-match losing run in qualifying that jeopardized a string of three consecutive World Cup appearances. Alonso inherited no small feat in following the remarkable 15-year tenure of Oscar Tabárez, but righted the ship via four consecutive qualifying victories while securing a spot in Qatar with one match still to play.
Former LAFC forward Diego Rossi is also in Alonso's current squad, while two standout MLSers – Orlando City SC forward Facundo Torres and LAFC forward Brian Rodriguez – weren't selected this go-around.
Uruguay will be carrying some momentum after beating Mexico 3-0 on Thursday evening behind a Cavani brace. At the World Cup, they're in Group H with Ghana, Portugal and South Korea.
