USMNT to play Trinidad and Tobago in Orlando

The U.S. men’s national team will return to Orlando to host its first match of 2021 at Exploria Stadium, facing Trinidad and Tobago Jan. 31.

The match will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on FS1, UniMás and TUDN. Tickets will be available for purchase with a limited capacity of 4,500 fans. Masks and social distancing will be required to attend the game.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter will continue to build toward the Tokyo Olympics — which are limited to players under the age of 23 — with a group of young, domestic-based players. Orlando City star Chris Mueller is expected to be on the roster for the game, while teammates Andrés Perea, Benji Michel and Daryl Dike could potentially earn call-ups from the U-23 camp for the match.

Mueller scored two goals and assisted on a third during his international debut for the Americans in December. Dike picked up a knock during the camp leading up to that match, preventing his national team debut following a breakout rookie season.

Perea is now eligible for selection for a match following the permanent switch of his national team affiliation from Colombia to the United States. This is the second call-up for Michel, who has never before played in an international match.

It is the first match during a crammed 2021 international schedule, which includes the Concacaf Nations League in June, the Gold Cup in July and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying in September, along with the Olympics.

“It’s nice after an intensive training camp to get to compete,” Berhalter said. “The guys have been working hard and we welcome the opportunity to play against a regional rival like Trinidad and Tobago.”

Tickets for the match go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 on USSoccer.com.