Wil Trapp, Gyasi Zardes, and Zack Steffen are set to make history on Tuesday, June 18 as the Columbus Crew SC members prepare to represent the Stars and Stripes in the United States’ 2019 Gold Cup opener in Saint Paul, Minn.
Tuesday's match marks the Men’s National Team’s first-ever competition in Minnesota in what will also be the nation’s first-ever match against Guyana since the U.S. association began play in 1916.
In the MNT's most recent friendly on June 9 vs. Venezuela, all three Crew members started, including Trapp earning the captain's band as part of his 17th career cap. Notably, that was Trapp's ninth time captaining the Starts and Stripes, as he is the fifth different player to wear the armband in the six matches under MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter. Trapp and fellow MLS player Paul Arriola remain the only players to appear in all six matches for the MNT in 2019.
Steffen made his 10th-career appearance, becoming the 12th MNT goalkeeper all-time to earn double-digit caps. With 498 days since his debut last January, the 24-year-old is also the second fastest USMNT goalkeeper to reach 10 caps, following only fellow Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel. The three-time World Cup veteran collected his 10th appearance in 1993, 290 days after his debut the previous year.
Zardes enters the tournament with 45 caps to his name, including seven goals and nine assists, and was a key piece to the MNT's most recent run as Gold Cup champions in 2017. Along with Trapp and Steffen, the Crew's three-player contingent on the USMNT stands as the only team with more than two players on the MNT's 23-player roster.
As for the opening opposition, Guyana is making their first appearance in the Concacaf Gold Cup and will be the 98th different nation the MNT has faced since 1916. Kickoff on Tuesday is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET from Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC.
USA - Group D - 2019 Gold Cup - Standings
<strong>Pos.</strong> |
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>Pts.</strong> |
1 |
USA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Panama |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Guyana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
USA - Group D - 2019 Gold Cup - Match Schedule
June 18 |
10 p.m. ET |
vs. Guyana |
Saint Paul, Minn. |
FS1 & UniMas |
June 22 |
8 p.m. ET |
vs. Trinidad & Tobago |
Cleveland, Ohio |
FS1 & UniMas |
June 26 |
9 p.m. ET |
vs. Panama |
Kansas City, Kan. |
FS1 & UniMas |
