MIAMI, Florida – Next week the second edition of the Concacaf Nations League will conclude with the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the United States will look to defend their title.

Two years ago, in 2021 to cap the inaugural edition in 2019-20, the U.S. defeated Honduras 1-0 in the semifinals before topping rivals Mexico 3-2 in an epic Final that saw three different lead changes, a goal from each team in the final 15 minutes of regular time courtesy of Diego Laínez and Weston McKennie, a U.S. penalty conversion in extra time from Christian Pulisic, and a last-minute save from U.S. GK Ethan Horvath of a Mexico penalty in extra time taken by Mexico’s Andres Guardado.

The U.S. are back in the CNLF thanks to their first-place finish in Group D of League A in which they finished ahead of El Salvador and Grenada by posting a 3W-1D-0L record, with 14 goals scored, the most of any team in League A, and just two conceded.

That performance improved the overall record of the U.S. in CNL play to a sparkling 8W-1D-1L record while outscoring opponents 37-6. The U.S. are undefeated in their last eight CNL matches with seven wins and a draw, with their lone defeat coming in the 2019-20 group stage against Canada, 2-0.

Overall, McKennie leads the U.S. in CNL scoring with six goals, followed closely behind by Jordan Morris with five goals and Jesus Ferreira with four goals. Coincidentally, Ferreira scored all four of his goals in a single match, the 5-0 U.S. victory versus Grenada in June 2022.

Morris and McKennie are also among the assist leaders for the U.S. in the CNL with four each, tied with Luca de la Torre, who also has four assists.

The U.S. can also rely on some accurate passers and ball-winners, namely Brenden Aaronson, who led the team in completed passes with 149 in the 2022-23 group stage, plus Antonee Robinson and De La Torre, who each had four ball recoveries.

Pulisic, who scored the winning goal in the 2019-20 CNL Final, has been involved in six goals with three goals and three assists, trailing only McKennie (10) and Morris (9) in terms of goal involvements.

In goal, the U.S. have enjoyed many great performances, with Zack Steffen leading the way with nine saves, followed by Horvath, whose one of his six saves was his memorable diving stop of Guardado’s last-minute penalty in extra time in the 2019-20 Final.