The United States is on its way to qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Sitting in first place (14 points) at half-point of a 14-match schedule, and starting convincing victory at home against regional power Mexico, there’s little for US fans to not feel optimistic about as the team heads to Jamaica for the latest game.
But this could also prove the most nerve-wracking part of qualifying, because fans who’ve gone through the flops of 2018’s campaign realize – so does America’s head coach Gregg Berhalter – that it’s not going to go well. share for the rest of the journey. Tuesday’s trip to face a desperate Jamaican side is just the kind of test they will need to survive to avoid complicating matters in the final seven games.
Jamaica (sixth, six points) is seven points above the qualifying area and five points from the single wild card playoff spot. The Jamaicans will feel like they should have added three points after conceding costly goals against Mexico and El Salvador. But with five of their past seven games at home in Kingston, Reggae Boyz knows a spot at Qatar 2022 will lead to a win at the National Stadium.
THAN: CONCACAF Qualifier standings, schedule and highlights
This is the fourth time these teams have met this year, with the United States winning all three of their previous games: winning 4-1 in Austria, winning 1-0 in the Gold Cup quarterfinals (the team won in the 83rd minute) and Win the October qualifiers 2-0 in Austin, Texas, with a goal from teen Ricardo Pepi (below).
But the Jamaicans were left out in that final match. This time their two biggest stars, Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) and Michail Antonio (West Ham) are expected to play. And their first qualifying match against the US will have an extremely special feeling: Reggae Boyz will play in front of fans for the first time on the 34th anniversary of their only World Cup appearance. with a score of 0- Draw 0 at home against Mexico in 1997.
How to watch Jamaica vs. the USA
- Day: Tuesday, November 16
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Channel: University
- Streaming online: fuboTV, Paramount +
Jamaica vs. USA will air on Universo (Spanish) and Paramount + (English) with the Universo feed available via live stream on fuboTV. New users can try fuboTV 7 days free trial.
5,000 fans are expected at Kingston’s National Stadium, about 15% capacity. This is still more than what the Jamaicans have in the past two qualifying home games, in which they failed to score a win.
Jamaica lineup vs. the USA
In a must-win home game, it is expected that Bailey and Antonio will start, and Berhalter says he is planning for that. Given how well Jamaica’s defense is playing, manager Theodore Whitmore could use the same back four and refresh the two-man shield in front of them with the possibility of Derby County’s Ravel Morrison stepping in.
Jamaica’s starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): Andre Blake-GK – Kemar Lawrence, Damion Lowe, Adrian Mariappa, Oniel Fisher – Devon “Speedy” Williams, Ravel Morrison – Leon Bailey, Kemar Roofe, Bobby Reid – Michail Antonio
Jamaican Submarines (12): Dwayne Miller-GK, Jeadine White-GK, Javain Brown, Alvas Powell, Greg Leigh, Liam Moore, Anthony Grant, Je-Vaughn Watson, Lamar Walker, Junior Flemmings, Cory Burke, Shamar Nicholson
Without the injured Sergino Dest and Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie (yellow card) and Miles Robinson (red card) will have to leave the US team because of suspension, and both will leave significant holes. Kellyn Acosta and Mark McKenzie are expected to be potential replacements, but other staffing formulas are possible. Additional roster rotations could include Reggie Cannon for DeAndre Yedlin at right-back or Sam Vines for Antonee Robinson at left-back.
ADVICE: Moving through Mexico, USA is the top dog in CONCACAF
It will also be interesting to see if Christian Pulisic gets a start, or whether Berhalter rewards striker Aaronson-Pepi-Weah for working hard against Mexico and sticking with it. Pulisic for Aaronson wide on the left, or Paul Arriola for Tim Weah wide on the right are potential swaps.
US starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Zack Steffen-GK – Antonee Robinson, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, DeAndre Yedlin – Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams (captain), Yunus Musah – Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi, Tim Weah
United States Submarines (12): Matt Turner-GK, Reggie Cannon, Chris Richards, James Sands, Joe Scally, Sam Vines, Gianluca Busio, Sebastian Lletget, Cristian Roldan, Christian Pulisic, Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira
Jamaica vs. USA: Odds & Predictions
Odds by DraftKings
America may be 19W-3L-8D every game against Jamaica, but only 1W-1L-4D every time in road World Cup qualifiers against Reggae Boyz, so it’s a historic ride that’s never easy easily regardless of the point gap between the two teams. in the ranking.
Another trend to watch out for: This U.S. youth team has shown themselves as the sharper laner so far in qualifying, and they’ve started slow in every three games and haven’t scored a single goal. in the first half of all three laners. hitherto. And it’s not just the Americans that didn’t score, it’s that they didn’t create many attacks in any given game. In the previous three games against Jamaica this year, the US scored a single goal in the first half and it was a friendly.
THAN: How the USA can qualify for the World Cup
With Jamaica having the ability to come out the door strong and emerge with the first taste of a crowd, America is likely to go backwards to begin with. It may take some time to adjust to the pitch, conditions, and dangers posed by Bailey and Antonio, who are facing the United States in qualifying for the first time. For all of those reasons, the most interesting matchup might be the USA being closed in the first half (-105).
Pick: America did not score in the first half (-105)
Guess: Jamaica 2, USA 2
- Cash flow: Jamaica +500 / Draw +275 / US -180
- Spread (Asia Handicap): Jamaica +0.5 (+135) / US -0.5 (-185)
- Total goals is O/U 2.5: Above +125 / Below -165
- Both teams scored: Yes +115 / No -155
