GREG BERHALTER , the USMNT head coach , said : “ The objective ahead of us is clear : - We want to compete for our third Nations League title and the chance to play in Copa America , and it ’ s going to take focus and determination to get past Trinidad & Tobago .
- We have had a core group together for the last two windows in preparation for this opportunity , and we want to finish the year on a strong note and position ourselves to compete in two important competitions next year .”
GREG BERHALTER
In addition to putting the USMNT in position to win its third-consecutive CNL championship , the Quarterfinal Round serves as qualification for the prestigious 2024 Copa America , South America ’ s preeminent international tournament , which will be hosted in the United States next summer . The 2024 edition of the event will include six CONCACAF guest nations and the 10 CONMEBOL nations , including defending World Cup and Copa America champion Argentina led by captain and Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi .
While the November matches are officially classified as the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals , the home-and-away series has an extra incentive . It also serves as qualification for next year ’ s Copa America in the United States .
Though two-leg series are more common in the knockout stages of competitions like the UEFA Champions League , this marks the seventh time the USMNT will navigate a two-leg series with another opponent , and the first instance outside of World Cup qualifying . The USMNT goes into this month ’ s series with the “ Soca Warriors ” Trinidad & Tobago holding a 4-2 record in two-leg series , winning each of the last four instances .
GOALNEWS 3