As the three-time defending champions of the CONCACAF Nations League, the United States look to remain as sole kings of the continent as they take on Panama in the 2024/25 semifinals on Thursday.
The winner of this match will earn the right to face either Canada or Mexico in the final on Sunday, meaning there will be no room for mistakes in this competitive environment.
STREAM: USMNT vs Panama LIVE
STREAM: USA vs Panama LIVE
That will be glaringly apparent for the USMNT, who will still harbor the pain of defeat to Panama at the 2024 Copa America, which left them embarrassingly eliminated in the group stage on home soil. While they exacted immediate revenge via a 2-0 friendly win over Panama last fall, a victory with more tangible consequences will go much farther in the quest to exorcise those demons.
With many of the first-team regulars at Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal, there can be no excuses for the USMNT as they keep one eye on building towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, which draws ever closer on the horizon.
USA vs. Panama kick off time
This CONCACAF Nations League semifinal kicks off from SoFi Stadium on Thursday, March 20 at 4 p.m. local time in Inglewood, California. Here’s how that time translates across the major time zones across North America:
STREAM: USA vs Panama LIVE
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Thu, Mar. 20 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Central Time | Thu, Mar. 20 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Mountain Time | Thu, Mar. 20 | 5 p.m. MT |
| Pacific Time | Thu, Mar. 20 | 4 p.m. PT |
USA vs. Panama lineups, team news, squad
First-choice strikers Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun suffered long-term injuries to leave them out of action, with Pepi done for the season after knee surgery and Balogun still missing with his shoulder injury. Haji Wright was also not called in having just returned to the field from an ankle injury, leaving the striker position thin.
STREAM: USA vs Panama LIVE
That leaves Josh Sargent as the clear first-choice option, finally healthy and hoping to bring his good Norwich City form back for international duty. Patrick Agyemang could also factor in off the bench after a strong showing in January camp.
Sergino Dest only just returned to club action from his ACL tear and is not yet fit for international duty, while Malik Tillman is absent due to an ankle issue. Antonee Robinson has withdrawn from the squad due to injury, which represents a major blow late in the leadup to this game. Johnny Cardoso and Auston Trusty were also scratched from the squad after being called in.
Now back to regular club minutes, Tyler Adams returns to the U.S. squad for the first time in nearly eight months and should slot into midfield. Gio Reyna is also in the squad despite a continued lack of club playing time, but he will have to prove himself worthy of a spot on the field.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) — Weah, Carter-Vickers, Richards, Scally — McKennie, Adams, Tessman — Musah, Sargent, Pulisic.
USA subs: Schulte (GK), Steffen (GK), Arfsten, Fossey, McKenzie, Carter-Vickers, McGlynn, Reyna, Gutierrez, Luna, White, Agyemang.
In goal for Panama, Orlando Mosquera has taken over full-time duties from Luis Mejia between the sticks. Captain Anibal Godoy earns his 144th international cap with just his second start since missing the Copa America due to injury.
Defender Fidel Escobar is on the Panama roster for this international break but will be suspended for this match after being sent off late in their quarterfinal win over Costa Rica back in November.
Not appearing in the squad are experienced midfielders Edgar Barcenas, Cesar Yanis, and Andres Andrade, all of whom were cut from the preliminary roster, while forward Jovani Welch is yet to return from a broken leg suffered in September.
Panama starting lineup (4-1-4-1): Mosquera (GK) — Blackman, Cordoba, Farina, Gutierrez — C. Martinez — J. Rodriguez, Carrasquilla, Godoy, Harvey — Fajardo.
Panama subs: Samudio (GK), Mejia (GK), Anderson, Valencia, Morales, Cedeno, T. Rodriguez, Waterman, I. Diaz, Herrera.
USA vs. Panama live stream, TV channel
- Date: Thu, March 20, 2025
- Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- TV channel (English): None
- Stream (English): Paramount+
- TV channel (Spanish): Univision
- Stream (Spanish): Fubo
The match between the United States men and Panama from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA will be streamed in English exclusively on Paramount+.
There is also a Spanish-language broadcast on Univision, which can be streamed on Fubo who are currently offering a free trial for new users.
USA vs. Panama score
| Score (Pregame) | Goal scorers | |
| USA | – | – |
| Panama | – | – |
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 21. Weah, 13. Ream, 3. Richards, 19. Scally — 8. McKennie, 4. Adams, 11. Tessman — 6. Musah, 9. Sargent, 10. Pulisic.
Panama (4-1-4-1, right to left, predicted): 22. Mosquera (GK) — 2. Blackman, 3. Cordoba, 5. Farina, 15. Gutierrez — 6. C. Martinez — 7. J. Rodriguez, 8. Carrasquilla, 20. Godoy, 16. Harvey — 17. Fajardo.
USA vs. Panama live updates, highlights from Nations League semifinal
45 mins to kickoff: One of the biggest spotlights for USMNT fans will be on Yunus Musah, who has been the subject of much debate regarding his best position. It seems Mauricio Pochettino has once again indicated that he sees Musah as a wide player rather than as a midfielder.
Today, the question after seeing the lineup is whether he will play right-back behind Tim Weah, or whether Weah will occupy the full-back position behind Musah. Both are more naturally skilled further up the pitch, but both have club experience as a defender.
1 hour to kickoff: Panama have changed from their five-defender system to a more traditional four-back setup in a 4-1-4-1. They’ve brought 35-year-old veteran Anibal Godoy back into the lineup for just his second international start since he missed the Copa America due to injury.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The USMNT lineup is in! It looks like the traditional 4-3-3 setup, but with a few tweaks. To accommodate for the absence of Antonee Robinson, it appears that Joe Scally will flip to fill the left-back spot, while Tim Weah will play right-back and Yunus Musah will occupy the right wing position.
With Pochettino appearing to favor Musah more on the wing than in midfield, it’s Tanner Tessman who has come into the middle alongside Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.
Tim Ream wears the captain’s armband at center-back, still given a starting role despite the fact that Cameron Carter-Vickers is performing well in the Champions League and Mark McKenzie is having a strong campaign in Ligue 1.
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Tonight’s venue, SoFi Stadium, is a gorgeous new venue that is slated to host FIFA World Cup matches next summer.