AUSTIN, Texas (June 19, 2025) — The U.S. Men’s National Team overcame a gritty Saudi Arabia side 1-0 in the Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage second match on a warm, humid night at Q2 Stadium.
Defender Chris Richards broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute on a sliding short strike off a set piece free kick. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter assisted Richard with a perfectly-arched pass from the right side. Berhalter, in just his third National Team appearance, recorded his first assist. Richards tallied his second goal in his 27th cap. Richards' first score also came in Concacaf competition in the 2023 Nations League Final against Canada.
The USA advanced the quarterfinal with the win and Haiti’s draw versus Trinidad and Tobago. The Americans head to Arlington, Texas, sitting at the top of Group D. They’ll face Haiti to round out group play at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, June 22 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT (FOX, TUDN, ViX; SiriusXM FC, FDP Radio).
Neither team could find the goal in the first half. Both squads finished the first 45 with two shots each and one on target. Richards making his third start of the year, helped hold Saudi scoreless with an impressive sliding block after a Green Falcon caught the U.S. off guard on a breakaway.
Saudi Arabia’s aggressive defense challenged the U.S. for much of the first half. The Al-Suqour played a 4-3-3 in contrast to Trinidad and Tobago’s deep 5-3-2 formation. The U.S. set up in the same 4-2-3-1 with the same starting lineup.
The U.S. attack improved in the second half as the Americans finished the game with five shots, three on goal. The Americans also dominated time of possession 67% compared to 33%.
Mexico and Costa Rica in Group A also punched their tickets to the knockout round. Group B and Group C resume play tomorrow to determine more of the quarterfinal field, with the Group stage round ending June 24. The quarterfinals will commence June 28-29 from State Farm Stadium and U.S. Bank Stadium.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA — CHRIS RICHARDS (SEBASTIAN BERHALTER), 63rd minute: Earning a free kick, the U.S. played a set piece to create the scoring opportunity. Berhalter took the kick from the right side and launched the ball toward the goal where Richards connected on a short sliding kick with his right foot.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Mauricio Pochettino started the same lineup that began Sunday’s Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago. It’s the first time Pochettino has run out the same Starting XI in back-to-back matches
- Captain Tim Ream and Chris Richards paired in central defense for the 12th time. This summer, Ream and Richards have donned the captain’s armband in all but one match.
- Sebastian Berhalter earned his third cap and second straight start at Q2 Stadium, where he played on loan with Austin FC in 2021.
- Goalkeeper Matt Freese earned his third cap and his second-straight clean sheet. He made a critical save on Saudi Arabia’s lone shot on target.
- Midfielder Brenden Aaronson subbed on in the second half, earning his 50th cap. Aaronson made his first appearance in 2020. His 50 caps include the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Forward Haji Wright was one of three players who did not dress in accordance with the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Tournament Regulations. Wright, who scored a goal off the bench in the first bench, is dealing with a left Achilles issue.
- The USMNT is 4W-2L-2D in eight all-time meetings with Saudi Arabia. Tonight’s match marked the first meeting between the two nations in official competition since the USA’s 2-0 win in the FIFA Confederations Cup Third-Place Match on Aug. 3, 1999, in Guadalajara, Mexico.
- The USA is 5W-2L-1D against Gold Cup guest nations and 3W-0L-0D against guests from the Asian Football Confederation.
-U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Saudi Arabia
Date: June 19, 2025
Competition: 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup; Group Stage
Venue: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas.
Attendance: 11,727
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. CT (9:15 p.m. ET)
Weather: 92 degrees, partly cloudy
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| KSA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USA – Chris Richards (Sebastian Berhalter) | 63rd minute |
Lineups:
USA: 25-Matt Freese; 16-Alex Freeman (Johnny Cardoso, 88), 3-Chris Richards, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 18-Max Arfsten; 8-Sebastian Berhalter 14-Luca de la Torre (4-Tyler Adams, 62); 6-Jack McGlynn (9-Damion Downs, 62), 10-Diego Luna (11-Brenden Aaronson, 76), 17-Malik Tillman; 24-Patrick Agyemang (12-Miles Robinson, 88)
Substitutes: 1-Matt Turner, 2-John Tolkin, 5-Walker Zimmerman, 7-Quinn Sullivan, 21-Paxten Aaronson, 22-Mark McKenzie, 23-Brian White
Not Dressed: 26-Chris Brady, 19-Haji Wright, 20-Nathan Harriel
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
KSA: 1-Nawaf Al Aqidi; 13-Nawaf Bu Washl (8-Marwan Al Sahafi, 75), 5-Abdullah Madu, 4-Abdulelah al Amir (Capt.), 12-Saud Abdulhamid; 16-Ziyad Al Johani, Ali al Hassan (7-Mukhtar Ali, 58), 24-Abdulrahman Al Obud; 15-Aiman Yahya (11-Saleh Al Shehri, 57) 9-Feras Al Brikan (20-Abdullah Al Salem, 85), 26-Ali Majrashi
Substitutes not used: 2-Muhannad Al Shanqiti, 3-Salem Al Najid, 10-Faisal Al Ghamdi, 17-Mohammed Sulaiman, 19-Turki Al Ammar, 21-Abdulrahman Al Sanbi, 22-Ahmed Al Kassar, 23-Ali Al Asmari
Head coach: Hervé Jean-Marie Roger Renard
Stats Summary: USA / KSA
Shots: 5 / 3
Shots on Goal: 3 / 1
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 3 / 2
| USA – Diego Luna (Caution) | 67th minute |
| KSA – Abdulrahman Al Obud (Caution) | 89 |
| USA – Sebastian Berhalter (Caution) | 90 |
Officials:
Referee: Marco Ortiz (MEX)
Assistant 1: Michel Morales (MEX)
Assistant 2: Jorge Sanchez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Man of the Match: Chris Richards
