USMNT vs Mexico: Concacaf Nations League final team news

After beating Jamaica 3-1 in Thursday’s hard-fought semi-final, the United States are braced to defend the title against Mexico at AT&T Stadium this weekend. USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter put his team through one last practice session on Saturday to define his starting XI and put the final touches to his game plan for Sunday’s clash.

Training passes without incident

The good news for the USMNT is that Saturday’s session passed without incident and Berhalter will have a full squad to select his strongest team for the final. Everyone in the 22-man roster which the coach named for the tournament is fit and available to face Mexico - there have been no reports of injuries or absences due to suspensions, which gives the USMNT strategist a range of alternatives.

Key return for Berhalter

A boost for Berhalter and USMNT fans is the reinstatement of PSV Eindhoven winger Sergiño Dest, who missed the Jamaica game due to suspension. The 23-year-old wing-back was booked twice for dissent in the quarter final return leg against Trinidad and Tobago, earning himself a one-match ban in the process.

That didn’t deter the coach from excluding Dest from his roster. He has been in excellent form with PSV, with two goals and six assists already this season - credentials which make him a strong candidate to start against Mexico on Sunday night.

The semi-final against Jamaica took its toll on some players, and although the team has had two days to recover, Berhalter will surely consider resting one or two of those who played the full 90 minutes on Thursday. A total of 10 players who started against Jamaica were part of the triumphant Nations League squad last summer in Las Vegas - including Weston McKennie, who picked up his 50th cap.

Sunday’s final between the USMNT and Mexico will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday 24 March 2004, kicking off at 9:15 pm ET/6:15 pm PT.