January camp comes to a close as Gregg Berhalter leads his patchwork USMNT squad into an international friendly against Slovenia on Saturday.
As the match falls outside the designated FIFA international breaks, both sides feature fringe rosters full of second-choice and third-choice players hoping to impress their coaching staff and earn more playing time in the future.
For the United States, Miles Robinson is the only regular senior player in the January squad for this match, having just signed with FC Cincinnati for the coming MLS season.
Both nations are eyeing a massive international tournament this summer — the USMNT hosting the Copa America and Slovenia having qualified for their first European Championship since 2000. Thus, each manager will have a close eye on those who may impress during the 90 minutes in San Antonio.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs Slovenia match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
USA vs Slovenia live score
Score (1H) Goal scorers USA 0 – Slovenia 0 –
Kickoff: 2:07 p.m. local (3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT)
Location: Toyota Stadium (San Antonio, Texas)
Referee: Pierre Luc Lauziere (CAN)
Looking to watch USA vs Slovenia? Catch all of the action on TNT or stream it live on Sling.
Starting lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Schulte (GK) — 18. Moore, 12. M. Robinson, 14. Zawadzki, 5. D. Jones — 15. Atencio, 8. A. Morris, 11. Tillman — 17. Kamungo, 9. B. White, 7. Luna.
Slovenia (4-4-2 diamond, right to left): 1. Vekic (GK) — 2. Karnicnik, 5. Zaletel, 6. Zec, 3. Kuzmic — 13. Zeljkovic — 22. Svetlin, 20. Repas — 10. Elsnik — 11. Gradisar, 17. Sturm.
USA vs Slovenia live updates, highlights, commentary
USA vs Slovenia: First Half
18th min: Now Slovenia have a free-kick from around the same spot although a bit closer to the penalty area, but Shaq Moore gets his head to the delivery from Jan Repas and the chance evaporates.
16th min: The U.S. have a free-kick from about 40 yards out on the left, but it’s floated too deep and into the waiting arms of the Slovenian goalkeeper.
14th min: It’s been a bit of a cagey start between these two sides, with the teams engaging in a midfield battle. They are both trying to play forward through the middle but neither side has been able to get a real foothold in the match.
7th min: Only some utterly brilliant defending by DeJuan Jones prevented a very dangerous effort on goal as Slovenia counter-attack with real intent. Tamar Svetlin gets clean through and seemed to have an opening on goal but Jones muscles him out of the shooting window from behind.
3rd min: Bernard Kamungo runs the first attack for the United States down the left, and he feeds a dangerous ball into the middle but it’s intercepted and cleared by a Slovenian defender. A bright start for the U.S. who are dominating possession and have their first foray forward.
Kickoff: They’re under way at Toyota Stadium! Slovenia are wearing blue, while the U.S. players are in their white kits.
It’s a chance for players on both sides to impress and hopefully earn more minutes moving forward. Both teams have upcoming major tournaments this summer, so the reward for a good showing could potentially be huge.
5 – The @USMNT has recorded five straight shutout wins in Texas, equaling the longest such streak in a single state in team history. Spurred. pic.twitter.com/dIiXLPHnjN
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) January 20, 2024
USA vs Slovenia: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
15 mins to kickoff: There are three players from MLS Cup winners Columbus Crew in the USMNT starting lineup today, the most of any club. FC Cincinnati sent three players to the January camp as well, but only new free agent signing Miles Robinson got a start, with Roman Celentano and Ian Murphy on the bench to begin.
301 – With three players in today’s starting XI, Columbus Crew players have totaled 301 individual appearances for the @USMNT while playing for the club, the fourth MLS team to reach that milestone. Hardhats. pic.twitter.com/sbbh98g3OF
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) January 20, 2024
30 mins to kickoff: The two players fans may have hoped to see the most in Jack McGlynn and Duncan Maguire start on the bench, but one to watch in the starting XI is Josh Atencio. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder earned a spot with the Seattle Sounders late in the season, and performed well as they made a run to the Western Conference semifinals.
He scored for the U.S. team just six days ago in a scrimmage against Argentine club River Plate, which finished in a 2-2 draw.
45 mins to kickoff: Slovenia’s lineup looks to potentially be a 4-4-2 diamond, with exciting 21-year-old debutant Adrian Zeljkovic at the No. 6 position. The most experienced player is full-back Zan Karnicinik, whose 24 caps far exceed anyone else on this very inexperienced roster.
Znana je začetna enajsterica Slovenije. Elšnik v vlogi kapetana. #SrceBije 🇸🇮 pic.twitter.com/k035famlwp
— NZS | FA Slovenia (@nzs_si) January 20, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: The USMNT lineup is in. As we speculated earlier, it’s Patrick Schulte in goal, while Miles Robinson captain’s the team. Brian White takes the central striker spot, flanked by Bernard Kamungo and Diego Luna.
Seven players in the U.S. starting lineup are earning their first USMNT cap, which equals the modern era record set in last year’s January camp defeat to Serbia. The only players in the lineup with a prior international cap are Miles Robinson, Aidan Morris, DeJuan Jones, and Shaq Moore. Every single forward, two of three midfielders, a defender, and the goalkeeper are all on their debut.
📍SATX pic.twitter.com/akCe2YkXuc
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 20, 2024
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The youngest player on the USMNT roster for this match is 18-year-old New England Revolution winger Esmir Bajraktarevic, but he’s got plenty of national team experience. He has been with the U-23 national team for a while now, and is a possibility to play for the side at the Olympics this summer.
“Talking to Gregg [Berhalter] and [U-23 national team head coach] Marko [Mitrovic], they’ve been telling me this – if you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Bajraktarevic told Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now. “I try not to really think about my age that much. I still have a lot of growing to do, but I think that I can compete no matter what. It doesn’t matter how young I am.”
With Cade Cowell departing USMNT camp to complete his transfer to Mexican club Chivas, Bajraktarevic could have a window to start this match, or see big minutes in some capacity.
18-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic could make his U.S. Men’s National Team debut today.
Here are three things you should know about the New England Revolution midfielder before the #USMNT kicks off against Slovenia at 3 pm EST pic.twitter.com/M98ayyYl7m
— Seth (@SethMan31) January 20, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: The United States released the official squad with numbers for this match, and it’s interesting to note that Patrick Schulte gets the No. 1 jersey, possibly hinting at the Columbus Crew man earning the start today.
It was through that Drake Callender could be given the start based solely on time served, having been called in to USMNT service multiple times without seeing the field, but it’s entirely possible Schulte, who won the MLS Cup title this past season, may have won the spot across the last few weeks of camp.
Our squad to start the year. pic.twitter.com/QcXzwpvt4s
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 20, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Another player who departed national team camp early is Cade Cowell, who left on Wednesday to finalize a move to Mexican club Chivas. Cowell’s move is a big one for the 22-year-old, costing the Liga MX side $4 million according to reports. He will not participate today, and while that does see him miss out on a chance, Cowell is far more well established in the national team setup than someone like Ragen whose absence is tough for a player who isn’t likely to see more opportunities to impress.
The USMNT has given Cade Cowell permission to depart national team camp today.
Cowell will travel to finalize his transfer to Chivas from San Jose, worth an initial $4 million plus add-ons and a sell-on %
🇲🇽🔜 https://t.co/28JLlDtb67
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 11, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: One player who would have been in line to start this match is Jackson Ragen, who had a second consecutive stellar season with the Seattle Sounders. Ragen was one of the best central defenders in MLS this past year, and at a position of uncertainty for the U.S., he had a lot to gain from a good performance in this match.
Unfortunately, the 25-year-old had to withdraw from camp earlier this week due to a knee injury. It’s a huge missed opportunity for him, but hopefully he did enough to earn more looks down the road. If he puts forth another big season in MLS, he likely will, as the USMNT center-back depth chart is muddy at best.
Jackson Ragen departs USMNT training camp after “re-aggravating a previous knee injury.” Unclear how serious it is, but this is the first I’ve heard of him having a knee issue.
— Jeremiah Oshan (@JeremiahOshan) January 14, 2024
USA vs Slovenia lineups, team news
With a roster entirely made up of domestic-based players in the midst of their offseason, it’s quite difficult to know who will get the nod in the match. It’s highly likely that defender Miles Robinson will start and captain the side, but his potential center-back partner Jackson Ragen withdrew from the squad due to injury. Also missing from the squad is winger Cade Cowell who departed early to finalize his club transfer to Mexican side Chivas.
With three uncapped goalkeepers on the roster, Drake Callender will be disappointed not to earn the start, as it’s Patrick Schulte chosen to begin between the sticks.
There are seven debutants in the starting lineup for the United States, tying a modern record set in last January’s friendly against Serbia. Josh Atencio and Bernard Kamungo are amongst those rewarded for a bright MLS season last year, while Jack McGlynn and Duncan McGuire will bide their time hoping for a first cap off the bench.
USA starting lineup (4-4-3): Schulte (GK) — Moore, M. Robinson, Zawadzki, D. Jones — Atencio, A. Morris, Tillman — Kamungo, B. White, Luna.
USA subs (12): Callender (GK), Celentano (GK), Wiley, Tolkin, Murphy, Tafari, Sands, McGlynn, Harriel, A. Jackson, Bajraktarevic, McGuire.
Like the United states, Slovenia’s squad features almost entirely domestic-based players who have little or no international experience.
The most veteran player on the roster is defender Zan Karnicnik who has 24 international appearances and the only senior international goal scored of any player in the entire Slovenia squad. He is one of four players called up from Slovenian club Celje who are running away with this year’s league title, 10 points clear at the top through 19 matches.
There is one US-based player on the roster, with 19-year-old right-back Mitja Ilenic just brought over to MLS side NYCFC from Slovenian club NK Domzale this winter for a €1 million transfer fee. He is joined by another exciting young player in 21-year-old defensive midfielder Adrian Zeljkovic who has Europa Conference League experience with his Slovakian club Spartak Trnava.
Slovenia starting lineup (4-4-2): Vekic (GK) — Karnicnik, Zaletel, Zec, Kuzmic — Zeljkovic — Svetlin, Repas — Elsnik — Gradisar, Sturm.
Slovenia subs (10): Pintol (GK), Mihelak (GK), Karic, Ilenic, Kavcic, Ratnik, Ticic, Zabukovnik, Vombergar, Poplatnik.
How to watch USA vs Slovenia
TV Channel (English): TNT Streaming (English): Sling, Max, Watch TNT TV Channel (Spanish): Telemundo, Universo Streaming (Spanish): Sling, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo
The friendly between the United States men’s national team and Slovenia on Saturday will be broadcast in the United States in English on TNT, which is available to watch on Sling, which is offering half-off right now for first time subscribers. The match will also be streamed on Max (formerly HBO Max).
A Spanish-language broadcast can be found on Telemundo and Universo, which are also available to stream on Sling, as well as Peacock for those with a premium login.
USA vs Slovenia betting odds, lines
Last January, a USMNT side led by interim coach Anthony Hudson fell to Serbia and drew with Colombia in its two friendlies, proving that a fringe national team side will struggle to keep up even as opponents travel great distances and also feature second-choice players.
They struggled mightily to put together significant attacking pressure and, especially against Serbia, were carved to shreds on the counter-attack.
With a very inexperienced and youthful attacking squad, sporting players in the midst of their club offseason, it’s entirely possible that a young Slovenia side comes across the Atlantic and spoils the party. While the moneyline might not be the best play, Slovenia on the double chance at +115 presents solid value.
Prediction: USA 1-1 Slovenia
DraftKings
(USA)
USA win
-150
Draw
+270
Slovenia win
+400
Both teams
to score Y/N
-110 / -130
Over / Under
2.5 goals
+100 / -150
USA
-0.5 goals
-165
Slovenia
+0.5 goals
+110