Sunday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup ultimate between the U.S. males’s nationwide group and Mexico is probably not the primary between the 2 packages, however for a number of American gamers, will probably be.
Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful squad are making ready for the 79th all-time assembly with El Tri in Houston, Texas, understanding the winner will raise the trophy and earn bragging rights for at the least the following 12 months. The People booked their spot within the ultimate after edging Guatemala 2-1 in semifinal play on Wednesday whereas Mexico defeated Honduras 1-0 later that evening.
Whereas veterans Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, and Tyler Adams are a number of skilled faces within the USMNT squad, many younger gamers resembling Diego Luna, Alex Freeman, and Patrick Agyemang might be going through off with El Tri for the primary time. Though Zimmerman hasn’t performed a minute of this summer season’s Gold Cup schedule, the 31-year-old is targeted on serving to the brand new crop of gamers be ready for a hostile environment towards Mexico.
“Quite a lot of these guys, it’s their first time taking part in [against] Mexico. It’s going to be a studying expertise,” Zimmerman stated in a convention name with reporters. “It’s going to be one thing that’s going to really feel a bit bit extra intense than what they’ve been round previously. That’s one thing that we, as guys who’ve performed earlier than, have to organize them in these coaching classes, have to organize them for the sport.
“And once more, it’s to not psych them out,” he added. “It’s to ensure that they’re ready and targeted and know that they’ve the idea of everybody on the employees, on the group that, ‘Hey, you’re right here for a cause. You may win this recreation. You’ve accomplished a fantastic job [in this] event. Let’s go end the job.’ In order that’s form of the mentality we have now proper now.”
Freeman is one among a number of new faces to the USMNT squad in 2025 as he goals to be a part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup roster. The Orlando Metropolis proper again has impressed throughout his summer season appearances, serving to the People declare five-straight victories within the competitors regardless of struggling back-to-back losses in pre-Gold Cup friendlies.
Wednesday’s USMNT-Guatemala showdown at Energizer Park introduced one of many higher atmospheres of the Gold Cup, offering Freeman and the opposite younger gamers with an instance of what they may see long-term in CONCACAF matches. Whereas Mexico is a distinct kind of opponent than Guatemala, the USMNT’s general objective of successful the Gold Cup hasn’t modified.
“It was form of new for me,” Freeman stated in regards to the semifinal environment in St. Louis. “Clearly that is my first event with the boys’s nationwide group. I really feel like this environment can construct character.
“I really feel like that’s one thing that I wish to do is construct my character and present not solely the teammates and the coaches however the followers additionally that this group is constructed for moments like that,” Freeman added.
Ought to the USMNT beat Mexico on Sunday, they’d raise their eighth Gold Cup in program historical past, which might them just one behind El Tri for essentially the most in event historical past.