The United States men’s national team looks better than it has in ages and certainly has its deepest talent pool in years, but all that will mean very little without a win over Panama in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, something it’s done 17 times in 25 tries (losing only thrice, all in Gold Cup matches).
The Yanks will have gotten a stirring lesson from Italy’s exit from qualifying on Thursday, a reminder that programs with better history and accolades can miss consecutive tournaments if not at their best in the key moments.
And while Gregg Berhalter’s defenders rose to the occasion in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Mexico at Azteca, key misses from Christian Pulisic and Jordan Pefok mean the win that could’ve all but sealed a berth in Qatar is a draw that leaves open the door for doubt. Here’s where the strings come in, to borrow a line from Superchunk. If you let them.
The United States men’s national team is the most talented team in CONCACAF right now. It will make some of you spit-takers out there even more alarmed and aghast when I add that it’s not even particularly close with anyone besides Mexico.
But the way the talent is assembled and motivated at times shows a weakness not in structure but belief, and it’s permeated the social culture around the team.
How to watch USMNT vs Panama World Cup qualifier live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 7pm ET, Sunday (March 27)
All-time series leader: USA – 17 wins, Panama – 3 wins, Draws – 5 Current FIFA rankings: Panama – 63rd, USA – 13th Live analysis: Here on ProSoccerTalk TV channel/streaming: FS1, Unimas, TUDN
USMNT vs Panama live analysis! – By Joe Prince-Wright
Pulisic scores early penalty kick
Arriola, Ferreira score in quick succession to make it 3-0
Panama have chances with Zack Steffen looking shaky
Pulisic scored another penalty kick right on half time to make it 4-0
Pulisic bags his hat trick with a lovely piece of control, turn and finish to make it 5-0
Check out our analysis and reaction, as the USMNT have just about clinched their spot at the World Cup!
The #USMNT players celebrating on the pitch in Orlando and they have a banner which says 'qualified' written on it. It was quickly taken away. The other banner said 'thank you fans.'
FULL TIME: USMNT 5-1 Panama – Job done. Barring a catastrophic (and huge) defeat in Costa Rica on Wednesday, the USMNT are going back to the World Cup!
Panama put up a fight late on, as Godoy made it 5-1 with a header. Fair play to them. They are eliminated from qualifying, but never stopped trying in Orlando.
GOALLLL! Oh my. That is majestic. Antonee Robinson whips in a cross and Pulisic takes a lovely touch, turns and finishes to seal his hat trick. 5-0.
Gaps are starting to open up on the break now for the USMNT. Reyna finds Pulisic and he finds Ferreira, but his shot is cleared off the line. Moments later Reyna finds Luca de la Torre with a great pass, who slots in Ferreira but his shot is over the bar.
Predictably it is all Panama in the second half. Steffen, Robinson and Zimmerman get in a bit of a mess but Panama don’t make the most of the chance. That was sloppy from the USMNT.
CHANCE! Straight away, Reyna is played in but he drags his shot wide. Should have been 5-0 to USMNT.
Gio Reyna and Kellyn Acosta come on for Paul Arriola and Yunus Musah at half time.
it is all about not getting any silly injuries now for the USMNT. Pulisic, Adams, Steffen and others will surely get pulled out in the second half. The job is done.
Gregg Berhalter speaking at half time: "It is 100 percent effort and intensity, that is what I love. It wasn't perfect." #USMNT#USAvPAN
GOALLL! Christian Pulisic scores another penalty kick after Godoy fouls Miles Robinson. Pulisic slots home. It is all kicking off soon after as the benches get involved and Pulisic isn’t happy. USMNT can lose 5-0 at Costa Rica on Wednesday and still qualify automatically for the World Cup. Wow.
As it stands, #USMNT would have to lose by 5+ goals at Costa Rica on Wednesday to not qualify automatically for the World Cup.
Godoy curls a low shot just wide, as Panama continue to pour forward.
Relentless from the USMNT. Panama keep flying forward because they need to win to keep their World Cup hopes alive, but that is leaving plenty of gaps for the U.S. to expose.
GOALLL! Jesus Ferreira slots home another. USMNT flying. 3-0 up inside the first 3-0 minutes. Safe to say the USMNT are at the World Cup.
¡Goooooooool del Team USA! 😎
Ferreira se encuentra con un rebote en el área y pone el tercero. ¡Ya es goleada en Orlando! 👏🔥
Wow. Almost a nightmare moment for USMNT. Caught in possession and Zack Steffen does just enough to punch the ball away, but goes down injured. Panama come close to putting the rebound away twice.
GOALLLLL! Christian Pulisic hammers home the spot kick. USA lead 1-0. The home crowd goes wild in Orlando.
¡Gooooooooooool de USA! 😎🔥
Christian Pulisic, el capitán América no falla. ¡Aprovecha el penal y pone en ventaja a Estados Unidos! 👏
PENALTY KICK TO USMNT! Godoy grabs Zimmerman around the throat. Can’t do that. Clear pen.
CLOSE! Christian Pulisic’s corner is almost headed home by Miles Robinson, but Panama half clear and then Ferreira’s rebound is deflected just wide. Noise level is outrageous in Orlando.
CHANCE! A cross is looped out to the edge of the box and Adalberto Carrasquilla hammers a shot just over. Great technique from the Panamanian midfielder. That was superb from the Houston Dynamo man. That shot appears to have woken up the USMNT.
Panama are pressing high early on. Very high. The USMNT haven’t seen much of the ball. Despite that, the home fans are buzzing in Orlando.
KICK OFF! After fireworks were launched into the air, the game is underway. With Costa Rica holding on to win at El Salvador, the scenario is simple for the USMNT. Draw and they will at least finish fourth in the standings. Win and they are all but qualified as Costa Rica will have to beat the USMNT by three and wipe out a hefty USMNT advantage in goal difference on Wednesday.
With Costa Rica's 2-1 win over El Salvador, the #USMNT can NOT qualify for the #WorldCup tonight.
But with at least a draw, the US can clinch a top 4 spot which is the intercontinental playoff spot.
The teams are out. The anthems are being played. The scene is set. Go time.
For anyone wondering why Reyna isn’t starting today, here is an explanation, of sorts. He’s still on the bench, but it appears several players were impacted.
FS1 broadcast reveals a number of USMNT players, including Gio Reyna, caught a stomach bug after the 0-0 draw at Mexico.
30 minutes to go until kick off. Things are getting tense.
Under an hour to go until kick off in Orlando…
Well, this is interesting. Shaq Moore starts at right back with Yedlin suspended, while Paul Arriola replaces Tim Weah, Luca de la Torre comes in for Kellyn Acosta and Jesus Ferreira in for Ricardo Pepi. Gregg Berhalter has chosen to not start Gio Reyna and that will surprise many. Perhaps Reyna is primed to be the hero off the bench!? Panama’s lineup sees two changes as Eric Davis and Freddy Gondola come in.
Hello. Another big night for the USMNT’s World Cup dream is coming up. They host Panama in Orlando knowing a win gives them a huge chance of qualifying for the tournament.
Gregg Berhalter’s side know that Panama will be stubborn as they simply have to win to give themselves a chance of reaching a second-straight World Cup.
This USMNT has yet to take the leap into trusting their ascendancy
It’s true and it’s not up for debate. From scheduling away games that risk hypothermia in the hopes of beating a team it almost always beats at home to social media considerations of whether to put their best lineup out against rivals because there’s another game in a few days — against a team that will have traveled just as far and played just as recently (but altitude, they scream!) — it’s a joke.
Look, Liga MX is strong and MLS’ growth has been impossibly fast but the clubs represented by the U.S. roster alone shows you that the gap between the U.S,, Mexico, and the field is huge. Yes, even you Canada, but this is a compliment. The Canadians are almost everything we loved about the USMNT in the early 2000s — out-performing their talent with guile and self-belief that borders on arrogance.
That’s the good way to border arrogance. We saw the bad way in 2017 from a waterlogged pitch in Couva and perhaps it’s made the team and federation sheepish to acknowledge the truth: The money invested in American soccer might not be nurturing the best talents but it’s turning out talent from all corners of the globe.
No team should play down the competition and yes, every team is going to talk about how difficult it is to win. The next time we hear “We’re going to take it three games at a time because El Salvador at home shouldn’t be an issue” will be the first.
But look at the Yanks’ best games. They come with either the implementation of superiority or the swagger of a team who wants the world to know it’s superior. Both silverware-collecting wins over Mexico, the pounding of Honduras at home and away.
And the Yanks have been ascendant (without finish)
The numbers would have a hard time telling any story other than the Yanks are better than the rest. Home or away, the Americans are delivering more danger than the opposition in nearly every match (Stats via Sofascore.com).
at El Salvador — Draw 0-0 -— Shots +6 (13-7); Big chances +3 (3-0) vs. Canada — Draw 1-1 -— Shots +5 (11-6); Big chances E (2-2)
at Honduras — Win 4-1 -— Shots -6 (12-18) ; Big chances +1 (3-2)
vs. Jamaica — Win 1-0 -— Shots +12 (17-5); Big chances +5 (5-0)
at Panama — Loss 0-1 -— Shots -3 (5-8) ; Big chances -2 (0-2)
vs. Costa Rica — Win 2-1 -— Shots +8 (12-4); Big chances +2 (2-0)
vs. Mexico — Win 2-0 -— Shots +10 (18-8); Big chances +1 (3-2)
at Jamaica — Draw 1-1 -— Shots +3 (9-6); Big chances -1 (0-1)
vs. El Salvador — Win 1-0 -— Shots +11 (17-6); Big chances +5 (5-0)
at Canada — Loss 0-2 -— Shots +5 (13-8); Big chances -2 (0-2)
vs. Honduras — Win 3-0 -— Shots +14 (16-2); Big chances +2 (2-0)
at Mexico — Draw 0-0— Shots -2 (9-11); Big chances +2 (2-0)
The shot attempts across those games? 152-89
The total for big chances across the first dozen games of the Octagonal? 25-11.
The combined scoreline? 14-7
The Americans have been out-shot twice in 12 matches, and have produced more big chances than the opposition in eight of 12. Five times they’ve allowed zero big chances.
CONCACAF will fear a USMNT that knows it’s better than the opposition and acts like it. We have a feeling that’s what we’ll see on Wednesday against Panama, a team that knows itself and is ready to cast aside the historical failings of 2017.
He has scored 42 (yes, forty two) goals in all competitions for Man City this season.
However, Pep Guardiola and Man City now face an anxious wait as an injury to Erling Haaland is the last thing they wanted before a pivotal final few months of the season as they chase the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
Norway’s team doctor, Ola Sand, gave an update on Haaland’s injury.
“We hoped that this was just a familiarity that would carry over to Saturday, but after doing tests and examinations yesterday it became clear that he will not make it to the games against Spain and Georgia,” Sand said. “It is better that he receives medical follow-up at the club.”
Norway face Spain on Saturday and Georgia next Tuesday, so it seems like Haaland is in a race to be fit for Man City’s games after the international break.
Which games could he miss?
After the international break Man City are playing in the first game of the weekend as they host Liverpool on Saturday, Apr. 1 at the Etihad Stadium.
It seems like Haaland could be struggling to be fully fit for that game, and maybe even the trip to Southampton on Apr. 8, so Pep Guardiola may choose to rest him for their massive UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich on Apr. 11.
Given the form Haaland is in right now, it will be a blow for City if he does miss the next few games but the last thing they want is any long-term damage. Plus, it’s helpful to have the likes of World Cup winner Julian Alvarez in reserve to step in for Haaland.
Remember: you can watch all 380 Premier League games across NBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com and Peacock. We’ve got you covered.
Will Manchester City win yet another Premier League title? Can Arsenal push them all the way? Will Chelsea and Liverpool recover to finish in the top four? Can Manchester United’s new-look side surge into the title race? What about Tottenham? How will the new boys get on? Who will be the surprise package?
Those questions will be answered from August 2022 to May 2023, with the full list of Premier League fixtures.
While below are the answers to all of the questions you have around the Premier League fixtures and everything else you need to know for the upcoming season, with full details on the Premier League TV schedule across the NBC family of channels and more.
The Premier League fixtures for the 2022-23 season were announced on Thursday June 16, 2022 at 4am ET. Below is the full schedule, as you can watch all 380 games across our NBC platforms.
The Premier League fixture computer decides who plays who and when, as teams located close to one another are usually playing at home on opposite weekends to help with policing, crowd control and transport congestion in those areas.
When will the Premier League take a break for the 2022 World Cup?
When will the 2022-23 Premier League season finish?
The final day of the season will be on Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Which teams will compete in the 2022-23 Premier League?
These are the 20 teams which will compete in the Premier League for the upcoming season:
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Predictions for 2022-23 Premier League season
We made a few bold predictions ahead of the Premier League campaign, which you can read in full here. And we’ve also predicted how we think the Premier League table will look at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. I’m sure you agree wholeheartedly with these predictions…
2022-23 Premier League TV schedule
Below are the Premier League fixtures in full, with all kick offs listed at 10am ET unless otherwise stated:
2:45pm: AFC Bournemouth v Brighton
2:45pm: Leeds v Nottingham Forest
2:45pm: Leicester vs Aston Villa
3pm: Chelsea vs Liverpool
Wednesday 5 April
3pm: Man United v Brentford
3pm: West Ham v Newcastle
Matchweek 30
Saturday 8 April
7:30am: Man Utd v Everton
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Newcastle
Fulham v West Ham
Leicester v AFC Bournemouth
Spurs v Brighton
Wolves v Chelsea
12:30pm: Southampton v Man City
Sunday 9 April
9am: Leeds v Crystal Palace
11:30am: Liverpool v Arsenal
Matchweek 31
Saturday 15 April
7:30am: Aston Villa v Newcastle
Chelsea v Brighton
Everton v Fulham
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Spurs v AFC Bournemouth
Wolves v Brentford
12:30pm: Man City v Leicester
Sunday 16 April
9am: West Ham v Arsenal
11:30am: Nottingham Forest v Man Utd
Monday 17 April
3pm: Leeds v Liverpool
Matchweek 32
Friday 21 April
3pm: Arsenal v Southampton
Saturday 22 April
7:30am: Fulham v Leeds
Brentford v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Everton
Leicester v Wolves
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Sunday 23 April
9am: AFC Bournemouth v West Ham
9am: Newcastle v Spurs
Postponed due to European action
Man Utd v Chelsea
Brighton v Man City
Matchweek 33
Tuesday 25 April
2:30pm: Wolves v Crystal Palace
2:45pm: Aston Villa v Fulham
2:45pm: Leeds v Leicester
Wednesday 26 April
2:30pm: Nottingham Forest v Brighton
2:45pm: Chelsea v Brentford
2:45pm: West Ham v Liverpool
3pm: Man City v Arsenal
Thursday 27 April
2:45pm: Everton v Newcastle
2:45pm: Southampton v AFC Bournemouth
3:15pm: Spurs v Man Utd
Matchweek 34
Saturday 29 April
7:30am: Crystal Palace v West Ham
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v Wolves
12:30pm: Arsenal v Chelsea
Sunday 30 April
9am: AFC Bournemouth v Leeds
9am: Fulham v Man City
9am: Man Utd v Aston Villa
9am: Newcastle v Southampton
11:30am: Liverpool v Spurs
Monday 1 May
3pm: Leicester v Everton
Rearranged games
Wednesday 3 May
3pm: Liverpool v Fulham
3pm: Man City v West Ham
Thursday 4 May
3pm: Brighton v Man Utd
Matchweek 35
Saturday 6 May
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea
Spurs v Crystal Palace
Wolves v Aston Villa
12:30pm: Liverpool v Brentford
Sunday 7 May
9am: Man City v Leeds* subject to possible Champions League schedule
11:30am: Newcastle v Arsenal
2pm: West Ham v Man Utd
Monday 8 May
10am: Fulham v Leicester
12:30pm: Brighton v Everton
3pm: Nottingham Forest v Southampton
Saturday 13 May
Arsenal v Brighton
Aston Villa v Spurs
Brentford v West Ham
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
Everton v Man City
Leeds v Newcastle
Leicester v Liverpool
Man Utd v Wolves
Southampton v Fulham
Saturday 20 May
AFC Bournemouth v Man Utd
Brighton v Southampton
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Man City v Chelsea
Newcastle v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Spurs v Brentford
West Ham v Leeds
Wolves v Everton
Sunday 28 May
16:00 Arsenal v Wolves
16:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
16:00 Brentford v Man City
16:00 Chelsea v Newcastle
16:00 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
16:00 Everton v AFC Bournemouth
16:00 Leeds v Spurs
16:00 Leicester v West Ham
16:00 Man Utd v Fulham
16:00 Southampton v Liverpool
Eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 10 games to go, what do Arsenal need to win their first Premier League title in 19 years?
Mikel Arteta has his young side on the cusp of a pretty remarkable and very unexpected Premier League title win.
With a solid defensive unit, perfectly balanced midfield and the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard having fine campaigns in the final third, there is so much to love about this Arsenal team.
But how, and when, can Arsenal seal the Premier League title they crave? How many points do they need to gain? What are the scenarios based on their huge game against Manchester City in April?
How many points do Arsenal need to win the Premier League title?
With 10 games remaining, there are many different ways the Gunners can win the Premier League title.
In its simplest form: if Arsenal win nine of their final 10 games they will be crowned Premier League games.
The magic number for Arsenal to reach is 95 points. If they reach 95 points, Manchester City cannot catch them.
But if Man City beat Arsenal in their huge game at the Etihad on April 26 and win their game in-hand, Arsenal will need to win all nine of their other remaining game to be sure of the title. That would give them 96 points and Man City could only finish on 94.
If Arsenal drew against Man City then Man City could only finish on a maximum of 92 points. That means Arsenal would need eight wins from their remaining nine games to win the title as they would have 94 points.
If Arsenal win at Man City then Man City would only be able to reach 91 points. So, Arsenal would only have to win seven of their other nine remaining games to seal the title.
All of this proves just how massive the Manchester City vs Arsenal game on April 26 is in deciding the title winner.
When did Arsenal last win the Premier League?
They last won the Premier League title in the 2003-04 season, the famous ‘Invincibles’ campaign as they didn’t lose any of their 38 games that season.
Think Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell and Robert Pires in full flow and Arsene Wenger with a huge smile on his face on the sidelines. Magnificent.
When did Arsenal last win a trophy?
The last trophy Arsenal won was the FA Cup in the 2019-20 season, they also won the FA Community Shield in 2020.
Both of those trophies were won by current boss Mikel Arteta.
Which trophies have Arsenal won?
Here are the list of trophies the Gunners have won in their history:
It has been confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will see 104 games played, up from the original 80, as 12 groups of four teams in each will be the format.
Following the FIFA Council meeting ahead of the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, it was agreed that the number of games for the 2026 World Cup would increase and the format would change from the previous format of 16 groups of three teams.
The 2026 World Cup will take place in three North American countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This will be the first time that the tournament is hosted by three different nations and it will be the very first time that the event will be contested in Canada. There will be a total of 16 venues used as host cities for the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. will have 11, Canada will have 2, and Mexico will have 3.
Additionally, the 2026 World Cup will debut an expanded format featuring 48 teams–as opposed to 32–split into 12 groups of 4.
Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Boston – Gillette Stadium
Dallas – AT&T Stadium
Houston – NRG Stadium
Kansas City – Arrowhead Stadium
Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium
Miami – Hard Rock Stadium
New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
San Francisco – Levi’s Stadium
Seattle – Lumen Field
