With expected incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino waiting in the wings, interim head coach Mikey Varas leads the U.S. men's national team into a friendly against northern rivals Canada on Saturday in Kansas City.
It's the first time the USMNT will take the field after the disappointment at this summer's Copa America, where the United States crashed out in the group stage, a finish that marked the end for head coach Gregg Berhalter.
Pochettino is reportedly set to sign his contract in short order, but has not done so yet officially, leading Varas to take charge in this match. The Argentine head coach is expected to be in attendance for the match, to get an eye on the players he will lead into a World Cup on home soil in two years' time.
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Canada, meanwhile, are continuing to build on their successful Copa America, having made the semifinals to the surprise of many viewers. American head coach Jesse Marsch has a tenuous relationship with U.S. Soccer, but has become entrenched in his current position in just a short amount of time.
It's the first chance for Marsch to take the field following the drone scandal that rocked Canada Soccer during the Olympics. While that focused largely on the women's team, it also shed a dark cloud over the men's program which has reportedly been utilizing the shady practice of spying on opponent training for years.
MORE: USMNT roster for September international friendlies vs. Canada, New Zealand
USA vs. Canada live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
- Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming |
| USA | TBS | Sling, Max, Peacock |
| Canada | OneSoccer | Fubo Canada |
The USMNT friendly vs. Canada in Kansas City will be televised in the United States on TBS, as part of Turner's long-term rights deal with U.S. Soccer.
TBS and other Turner channels are available to stream on Sling, while the match can also be streamed on Turner's dedicated platform Max. Subscription service Peacock is also an option.
In Canada, this match is televised on OneSoccer, which is available to stream on Fubo Canada.
MORE: Full USMNT schedule, results, and highlights for 2024 calendar year
What time is USA vs. Canada kickoff?
This international friendly match kicks off from Children's Mercy Park on Saturday, September 7 at 3 p.m. local time in Kansas City.
Here's how that time translates across the time zones in North America:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sat, Sep. 7 | 4 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sat, Sep. 7 | 3 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sat, Sep. 7 | 2 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sat, Sep. 7 | 1 p.m. |
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USA vs. Canada lineups & team news
The USMNT is without a few key players for injuries. Sergino Dest continues to recover from his torn ACL and will be out for some time, and Antonee Robinson is not on the roster to gain some rest. Tyler Adams is still recovering from a back injury and has missed significant time for various fitness issues in recent years, while Tim Weah is also out thanks to a hamstring injury suffered in the Juventus season opener.
Some, meanwhile, were left off due to club form, most notably Weston McKennie who is not starting at Juventus at the moment. Others include defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Miles Robinson who are both getting time at their various clubs but have struggled at times.
There are questions at the goalkeeper position, but Matt Turner should start to get him game minutes considering he's the backup at Crystal Palace for now.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Scally, Richards, Trusty, Lund — Musah, Cardoso, Reyna — Pulisic, Balogun, Wright.
Head coach Jesse Marsch has called in a full-strength roster for these September friendlies as he looks to continue establishing his tactical influence over the Canada squad. Stars Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and Stephen Eustaquio are all in, as are most of their other Copa America starters.
Full-back Sam Adekugbe was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a mild groin strain, having also missed the Copa America with a calf problem.
There's some young talent sprinkled in, with uncapped midfielders Niko Sigur and Nathan Saliba called up as well as Sporting KC forward Stephen Africa in his first national team camp.
Canada projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Crepeau (GK) — Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies — Laryea, Kone, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg — David, Larin.
USA vs. Canada prediction, betting odds & lines
- Score prediction: USA 2-2 Canada
Canada have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in CONCACAF, and they bring a strong roster into this friendly. Yet the drone scandal this summer cast doubt on their recent rise, and Jesse Marsch is now tasked with proving they can win without any apparent unfair advantages at their backs.
U.S. Soccer is in a period of transition as they move on from Gregg Berhalter and towards the Mauricio Pochettino era, and the awkwardness of this international break will create some confusion within the squad.
Still, the USMNT has the better overall roster, especially from a depth perspective, and there are numerous holes on the Canada side. An entertaining draw could be on the cards for two sides that both sport weaknesses along the back line as well as in-form forwards.