The Stars and Stripes will kick off their campaign to host the 2026 World Cup with some new faces in their first warmup match of 2023.

It is time to start thinking about the 2026 World Cup, especially for the host nations. Such is the case of the American team, which has decided to start working en route to their best-ever performance in the quadrennial competition with their first friendly match of this term. 

Their rivals on Wednesday will be Serbia, a combative team that will also give some of their younger players a chance to represent their country. Since this match will be held outside of an international window, coach Dragan Stojkovic was not able to call up some of his best players, giving way for players from the Serbian SuperLiga their first chance to play international football.

The hosts will enter this game fresh off their Round of 16 elimination against the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup, which made them the only team from CONCACAF to reach the KO Stages. For this, coach Gregg Berhalter has called up some experienced players to lead the way, but most of the footballers involved in this match could be making their international debut or will be handed a second chance to represent the Stars and Stripes.

Those players who have shown their worth for the USMNT previously will include Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long, and Kellyn Acosta, all of them included in the roster that played in Qatar last year. Added to those names, coach Berhalter also chose to call up Paul Arriola, Jesús Ferreira, Matthew Hoppe, and Sean Johnson as some of the players that may get a new chance to play for the national team in years to come.

The team's new faces will feature names such as Jonathan Gómez, Brandon Vázquez, DeJuan Jones, and Alejandro Zendejas, who has also been sought out by Mexico's national team. All of these players could be making their debut for the USMNT this Wednesday.

As for the rivals, the Serbian side will feature some well-known faces to MLS fans. Players such as Dejan Joveljic (LA Galaxy), Ranko Veselinovic (Vancouver Whitecaps), and Dorde Petrovic (New England Revolution) will be among those trying to make a lasting impression on coach Stojkovic for the team's upcoming games, which will include the 2024 UEFA Euro Qualifiers and other competitions.

This will only be the second game between these national teams, following their friendly back in January 2017. Fans watching at home or at BMO Stadium will wish for a different end to the game, as that previous clash ended in a goalless draw.

Broadcast info: USA vs Serbia

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

USA 1 - 2 Serbia

January 25, 2023 10:00pmBMO Stadium (Los Angeles, California)

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

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