Fresh off their CONCACAF Nations League triumph, the United States starts another trophy chase, taking on a Jamaica team with Premier League reinforcements in the opening match of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Bookmaker William Hill is offering enhanced odds at 5.00 for the USMNT to win both halves at Soldier Field on Saturday.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 23rd, 12:00 P.M. (EST)
Jamaica has beaten the U.S. just twice in the past 12 head-to-head meetings and now looks to improve its record with the help of seven Premier League players. The likes of Bobby Decordova-Reid and Michail Antonio have been regulars in the team for a while now, but the Gold Cup will now also mark the debut of Everton’s Demarai Gray.
Gray had a very good record for the England U21s, scoring eight times in 26 outings, but he was never able to take a step up to the senior side and the 26-year-old should now have plenty to prove on the international stage.
The Reggae Boyz add a pacy and creative player to their arsenal and Gray should complement Antonio and Leon Bailey well in the attack. Can he also repeat the start Antonio had for Jamaica? The West Ham man scored in two goals of his first three games with the team and is sitting on a nice overall record with three goals scored through six appearances.
The USMNT typically uses the Gold Cup to experiment and test out new players within the set-up, but as a true powerhouse of North American football, the Americans have still dominated the competition in the most recent editions. The U.S. has won three of the last five Gold Cup titles.
Mexico is still the most successful side in the competition’s history with eight triumphs, but the U.S. can match the record this year and the chance to do so should act as a great motivator for the side.
Having won 15 of the previous 17 outings at the Gold Cup, the hopes and confidence will be high for the USMNT. Only Mexico has caused them trouble in the most recent editions, taking the 2021 final into extra time before Miles Robinson struck the game-winner for the Americans and team Mexico defeating their northern neighbors 1-0 in the 2019 Gold Cup final.
Jamaica boasts only one win over the USMNT at the Gold Cup, having produced a famous 2-1 semi-final victory in the 2015 edition with goals by Darren Mattocks and Giles Barnes.
