The United States team lifted a new title by lifting the Concacaf Nations League and being crowned two-time champion of the tournament, after also winning the 2019/20 edition. The stars and stripes defeated Canada 2-0 in the final, which still hasn’t consecrated its golden generation.
The first goal was the work of Chris Richards, central defender of English Crystal Palace, who took advantage of a corner kick at minute 12 to score with a header. And with the clock ticking down to 34 minutes, Folarin Balogun increased the lead for the Americans. The English Arsenal striker, who had a great season on loan at the Stade de Reims in France, scored after Giovanni Reyna’s assist.
The Canadian team could not get up from that deficit and showed very little danger in the remaining time to come back from behind. Thus, those led by Alphonso Davies have yet to win a title in the region, after their attempts in the 2021 Gold Cup (semifinalists) and now in this League of Nations.
Christian Pulisic, the American captain, spoke about the process of his selection towards the competitions of the coming years. “This is another step in the right direction. In these kinds of matches, in big tournaments like the Copa América or the World Cup, you have to score when you need to and keep them away from our goal,” the striker said in a Concacaf interview.
The ‘final four’ of this competition took place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, in a final phase that sought to crown the champion of the 2022/23 edition. The United States, Mexico, Canada and Panama were the four teams that reached these finals, after coming out first in their respective groups in League A.
Last Thursday the semifinals were played, in which the United States beat Mexico 3-0, in a Concacaf classic that was marred by four expulsions and the controversy over the homophobic shout made by the Mexican fans. For their part, the canucks (as Canada is known), comfortably beat Panama 2-0 that could not cope with the offensive power of Davies, Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan and company.
After the defeat, Mexico and Panama met this Sunday for third place. The Mexicans arrived at this match with low morale and a shower of criticism from their fans for their recent poor performances. Even so, they managed to beat the Panamanians by the minimum (1-0) to keep the bronze.
The Concacaf Nations League will start again in September of this year, after confirming that it will be the qualifying route for the 2024 Copa América. Six Concacaf teams will get a ticket for this continental tournament after an agreement with Conmebol .
After the closing of the League of Nations, the four national teams will now face a new challenge in Concacaf. This same Saturday the Gold Cup will begin, the continental tournament for teams from this region.
The United States is located in Group A, along with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and one more team, which will come from French Guiana and Saint Kitts and Nevis (this Tuesday the Preliminary Phase ends). Mexico, for its part, is in Group B with Haiti, Honduras and Qatar, invited by Concacaf for the 2021 and 2023 editions of this tournament.
Panama will face Group C, led by Costa Rica, and which will also include El Salvador and another team that will be Martinique or Puerto Rico. Finally, Canada is located in Group D along with Guatemala, Cuba and the winner between Guadeloupe and Guyana.
The Gold Cup will be played almost entirely on American soil, with a single game to be played in Canada, and will crown a champion on July 16 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The United States is the current champion, after winning the 2021 edition.
