USMNT vs Saudi Arabia prediction, projected lineups, and how to watch

It was all doom and gloom for the USMNT heading into the Gold Cup, but things feel a little better after a 5-0 thrashing of Trinidad & Tobago in the tournament opener. However, there’s no denying that Trinidad & Tobago looked downright pitiful in that game. Every other Gold Cup game should offer a greater challenge than the Soca Warriors presented, starting with Thursday’s game against Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis also took three points from their Gold Cup opener, earning a 1-0 win over Haiti. Of course, that one goal came on a rather soft penalty, as Herve Renard’s team didn’t exactly dominate the game. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia was able to make that goal hold up over 90 minutes. 

The last time the U.S. and Saudi Arabia crossed paths was in September 2022. In their final friendly match before the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT played the Saudis to a scoreless draw, with both teams managing just two shots on goal. It wouldn’t be a shock to see this game unfold similarly. Scoring goals was a huge question mark for the U.S. coming into the Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s six matches in 2025 have featured a total of just nine goals, with both teams scoring just once in those six games.

How to Watch USMNT vs Saudi Arabia

Time: Thursday, June 19, 9:15 pm ET

Venue: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas

Tickets: Click here

TV/streaming: FS1 in English | ViX, TUDN in Spanish

USMNT vs Saudia Arabia Projected Lineup

For the most part, the USMNT victory over Trinidad & Tobago was a success. That likely means few changes by Mauricio Pochettino. The back-four should remain the same while attacking players Jack McGlynn, Malik Tillman, and Diego Luna all earned another start. However, it might be time to sit Patrick Agyemang despite his goal against the Soca Warriors. The only real question for the USMNT is in the midfield, as projected starters Tyler Adams and Johnny Cardoso both missed the Trinidad game due to injury and illness, respectively. Both are back at training, but it remains unclear if either is ready to start.

Meanwhile, since the Saudis are already playing their fourth competitive match this month, some rotation will likely be necessary after the 1-0 win over Haiti. The Saudi midfield, in particular, has seen a lot of turnover from one game to the next this summer. Similar to the U.S., several key Saudi players are sitting out the Gold Cup, as several notable players left the squad after the two World Cup qualifiers, leading to a lack of experience in the midfield.

USMNT Lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left)

Matt Freese (GK) - Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Max Arfsten - Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso - Jack McGlynn, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna - Haji Wright

Saudi Arabia Lineup (4-3–3, right to left)

Nawaf Alaqidi (GK) - Ali Majrashi, Abdulelah Al Amri, Abdullah Madu, Nawaf Al-Boushail - Faisel Al-Ghamdi, Ali Al-Hassan, Ziyad Aljohani - Marwan Al Sahafi, Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Buraikan

USMNT vs Saudi Arabia prediction

Playing Saudi Arabia will definitely be a step up from Trinidad & Tobago. But it shouldn’t be a challenge that the USMNT can’t handle. As mentioned, the Saudi squad isn’t at full strength. Even with a few European-based players and a handful of proven international players, this is a relatively young and inexperienced team.

Following the 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, the USMNT should enter this game with much-needed confidence. Players like Tillman and Luna should be capable of generating scoring chances despite a lack of proven strikers for the U.S. Meanwhile, despite a lack of experience at fullback, the contingent of U.S. center backs should be strong enough to prevent the type of high-scoring shootout we’ve seen elsewhere during the Gold Cup thus far.

In the end, this is a game the U.S. should win. It’s not going to come as easily as the win over Trinidad & Tobago because the Saudis have attacking players who are capable of punishing mistakes. But the U.S. should be able to gain an edge in midfield and turn that into a close win and three big points.

Prediction: USA 2, Saudia Arabia 1