The United States are coming off an embarrassing 2015 that saw them lose to Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals and to their biggest rival, Mexico, in the CONCACAF Cup. Pressure is on Jurgen Klinsmann and his team to regain their foothold as one of the preeminent teams in the region. Heading into the Copa America Centenario, the USA have been in constant transition, trying to find new talent and ideas to improve results. The Americans will be looking to defend their home turf as hosts of this special tournament. They’ll bring along some young and exciting new talent mixed with some familiar veteran stars to attempt maneuver their way through an extremely competitive field of teams. Will this be a tournament of redemption for the Stars and Stripes or another in the short line of disappointments?

By the Numbers

Recent Form:
4-0 W vs. Bolivia – Friendly
1-0 W vs. Ecuador – Friendly
3-1 W at Puerto Rico – Friendly
4-0 W vs. Guatemala – WCQ
2-0 L at Guatemala – WCQ

World Ranking: T-29
Copa America Record: 2W-2D-8L 
Best Copa America Finish: 4th in 1995
Top Goal Scorer: Clint Dempsey (49)

2016 USA Home & Away Jerseys

 Key Players

All eyes will be on the USA’s attacking force in the Copa America. It’s the age old dilemma of young vs. old when if comes to who will provide the quality in the final third for this team. Clint Dempsey represents the old guard, the country’s second all-time leading goal scorer. At 33 years of age, Dempsey has been fighting questions about his role with the national team his whole career. Now that he’s reached the downside of his career those questions start to become realistic.
Meanwhile, there’s the polar opposite situation occurring with 17-year-old Christian Pulisic. The Borussia Dortmund prodigy was handed a spot on the final roster after only one single cap for the national team. The uber-talented teenager impresses virtually anyone who witnesses his skills both abroad and domestically. This tournament could be his coming out party on the international stage.

Group Stage Schedule

The United States have drawn an incredibly difficult group as the host nation. They’ll have to fight and claw for every point and hope it’s enough to advance to the quarterfinals.

• Friday, June 3 — United States vs. Colombia, 9:30 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1
• Tuesday, June 7 — United States vs. Costa Rica, 8:00 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1
• Saturday, June 11 — United States vs. Paraguay, 7:00 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1

New York City Spot

There are so many great places to watch a USA game – both USMNT and USWNT – that it’s nearly impossible to choose just one.  If this summer is anything like the 2014 World Cup, almost every bar will have the match on. That said, if you’re in Manhattan, swing by Jack Demsey’s on 33rd Street to watch the match with American Outlaws NYC.

Closing Thoughts

Expectations aren’t very high for this team based on recent results in World Cup qualifying and last year’s Gold Cup. Yet, the U.S. men’s national team have a strange habit of always playing to their competition. They were given little to no chance to advance out of their 2014 World Cup ‘group of death’ but managed to find a way. With some exciting new young players in the fold and the fighting American spirit that the team has always been known for, they could shock a lot of people and make a deep run in the Copa America this summer.