2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

The 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals was the final tournament of the 2019–20 edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, the inaugural season of the international football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of CONCACAF. The event was held from June 3 to 6, 2021 at the Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, United States,[1] and was contested by the four group winners of Nations League A. The event consisted of two semi-finals, a third place play-off, and final to determine the inaugural champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.

2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
DatesJune 3–6
Teams4
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions United States (1st title)
Runners-up Mexico
Third place Honduras
Fourth place Costa Rica
Tournament statistics
Matches played4
Goals scored10 (2.5 per match)
Attendance144,198 (36,050 per match)
Top scorer(s)Ten players
(1 goal each)
2023

The United States defeated Mexico 3–2 after extra time in the final to become the first champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.[2]

Format

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The Nations League Finals took place in June 2021 and was contested by the four group winners of League A.

The Nations League Finals was played in single-leg knockout matches, consisting of two semi-finals, a third place play-off, and a final. The semi-final pairings were determined by the group stage rankings (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3),[3] and the administrative home teams for the third place play-off and final were announced on March 9, 2020. All matches in the tournament utilized the goal-line technology and video assistant referee (VAR) systems.[4]

In the Nations League Finals, if the scores were level at the end of normal time:[5]

  • In the final, 30 minutes of extra time would be played. If the score was still level after extra time, the winners would be determined by a penalty shoot-out.
  • In the semi-finals and third place play-off, extra time was not played, and the winners were determined by a penalty shoot-out.

Qualified teams

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The four group winners of League A qualified for the Nations League Finals.

Group Winners Date of
qualification
CONCACAF Rankings
June 2021[6]
FIFA Rankings
May 2021
A   United States (host) November 19, 2019 2 20
B   Mexico November 15, 2019 1 11
C   Honduras October 13, 2019 4 67
D   Costa Rica November 17, 2019 3 50

Schedule

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The tournament was originally to be held in Texas from June 4 to 7, 2020.[3] However, the tournament was postponed on 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[7] On July 27, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021,[8] though on September 22, 2020 CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.[9]

On February 24, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the dates for the rescheduled CONCACAF Nations League Finals: June 3 to 6, 2021, with the venue and times to be released at a later date.[10]

On May 9, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.[11]

Seeding

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The four teams were ranked based on their results in the group stage to determine the semi-final matchups.

Seed Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 B   Mexico 4 4 0 0 13 3 +10 12
2 C   Honduras 4 3 1 0 8 1 +7 10
3 A   United States (H) 4 3 0 1 15 3 +12 9
4 D   Costa Rica 4 1 3 0 4 3 +1 6
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) away goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) drawing of lots (Regulations Article 12.9).[5]
(H) Hosts

Venues

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Initially, the competition was scheduled to be held in Texas, with the BBVA Stadium and NRG Stadium in Houston hosting the semi-final matches, and the AT&T Stadium in Arlington hosting the third place play-off and final.[3] However, the planned venues were put into doubt following the tournament's suspension.[7]

CONCACAF announced the city of Denver, Colorado as the new hosts of the event on April 15, 2021, with Empower Field at Mile High hosting the two semi-finals, third place play-off, and final.[1]

Denver, CO
Empower Field at Mile High
Capacity: 76,125
 

Squads

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Each national team had to submit an initial squad of forty players, five of whom had to be goalkeepers, at least 24 days before the opening match of the tournament.[11] The final squads of 23 players (including three goalkeepers) had to be submitted by May 27, 2021, seven days before the opening match of the tournament. If a player became injured or ill severely enough to prevent his participation in the tournament no less than 24 hours before his team's first match, he was allowed to be replaced by another player.[12]

Match officials

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On May 24, 2021, CONCACAF announced the fourteen officials for the tournament.[13]

Bracket

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In the semi-finals and third place game, extra time was not played if tied after regulation, and the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. In the final, extra time was played if tied after regulation, and if still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out (Regulations Article 12.11).[5]

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
June 3 – Denver, CO
 
 
  Honduras0
 
June 6 – Denver, CO
 
  United States1
 
  United States (a.e.t.)3
 
June 3 – Denver, CO
 
  Mexico2
 
  Mexico (p)0 (5)
 
 
  Costa Rica0 (4)
 
Third place play-off
 
 
June 6 – Denver, CO
 
 
  Honduras (p)2 (5)
 
 
  Costa Rica2 (4)

All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).[11]

Semi-finals

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Honduras vs United States

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Honduras  0–1  United States
Report
  • Pefok   89'
Attendance: 34,451[16]
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)


 
 
 
 
 
Honduras
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
GK 22 Luis López
RB 23 Diego Rodríguez   57'   65'
CB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c)
CB 4 Marcelo Pereira   74'
LB 2 Kevin Álvarez
RM 17 Jonathan Toro   63'
CM 20 Deybi Flores
CM 10 Alexander López   64'
LM 11 Rigoberto Rivas   74'
CF 9 Anthony Lozano
CF 7 Alberth Elis   90+6'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Edwin Rodríguez   63'
MF 6 Bryan Acosta   75'   64'
DF 5 Éver Alvarado   65'
MF 14 Boniek García   74'
MF 21 Jhow Benavídez   74'
Manager:
  Fabián Coito
 
GK 1 Zack Steffen (c)
RB 2 Sergiño Dest
CB 6 John Brooks
CB 15 Mark McKenzie   84'
LB 5 Antonee Robinson   78'
CM 8 Weston McKennie
CM 14 Jackson Yueill   83'
RW 7 Giovanni Reyna   78'
AM 17 Sebastian Lletget
LW 10 Christian Pulisic   90+4'
CF 9 Josh Sargent   78'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Brenden Aaronson   78'
DF 20 Reggie Cannon   78'
FW 16 Jordan Pefok   78'
MF 23 Kellyn Acosta   83'
DF 3 Matt Miazga   90+4'
Other disciplinary actions:
MF 4 Tyler Adams   86'
Manager:
Gregg Berhalter

Man of the Match:
Jordan Pefok (United States)[17]

Assistant referees:[18]
Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)
Jassett Kerr-Wilson (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Reon Radix (Grenada)
Video assistant referee:
Erick Miranda (Mexico)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Mexico vs Costa Rica

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Mexico  0–0 (a.e.t.)  Costa Rica
Report
Penalties
5–4
Attendance: 34,451[16]
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costa Rica
GK 13 Guillermo Ochoa
CB 2 Néstor Araujo
CB 4 Edson Álvarez   84'
CB 15 Héctor Moreno   90+3'
RM 20 Uriel Antuna   90'
CM 16 Héctor Herrera   78'
CM 18 Andrés Guardado (c)   58'
LM 19 Gerardo Arteaga   68'
RW 14 Diego Lainez   58'
CF 9 Henry Martín   58'
LW 22 Hirving Lozano
Substitutions:
DF 21 Luis Rodríguez   58'
DF 7 Luis Romo   58'
FW 11 Alan Pulido   58'
DF 23 Jesús Gallardo   68'
MF 10 Orbelín Pineda   78'
Manager:
  Gerardo Martino
 
GK 23 Leonel Moreira
RB 4 Keysher Fuller
CB 6 Óscar Duarte
CB 15 Francisco Calvo   21'
LB 8 Bryan Oviedo
CM 10 Bryan Ruiz (c)   62'
CM 17 Yeltsin Tejeda
CM 5 Celso Borges   82'
RW 21 Alonso Martínez   54'   62'
CF 12 Joel Campbell   85'
LW 11 Randall Leal   85'
Substitutions:
FW 2 Ariel Lassiter   62'
MF 13 Allan Cruz   90'   62'
MF 14 Bernald Alfaro   82'
FW 7 Johan Venegas   85'
FW 9 Jurguens Montenegro   85'
Manager:
  Rónald González Brenes

Man of the Match:
Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)[20]

Assistant referees:[18]
Juan Tipaz (Guatemala)
Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago)
Fourth official:
Tristley Bassue (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Chris Penso (United States)

Third place play-off

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Honduras  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Costa Rica
Report
Penalties
5–4
Attendance: 37,648[23]
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)


 
 
 
 
 
Honduras
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costa Rica
GK 22 Luis López
RB 2 Kevin Álvarez   70'
CB 4 Marcelo Pereira
CB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c)
LB 23 Diego Rodríguez   78'
RM 11 Rigoberto Rivas   46'
CM 20 Deybi Flores
CM 6 Bryan Acosta
LM 8 Edwin Rodríguez   78'
CF 7 Alberth Elis
CF 9 Anthony Lozano   63'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Alexander López   46'
FW 12 Jorge Benguché   63'
DF 5 Éver Alvarado   78'
FW 17 Jonathan Toro   78'
Manager:
  Fabián Coito
GK 23 Leonel Moreira
RB 4 Keysher Fuller
CB 6 Óscar Duarte
CB 15 Francisco Calvo
LB 8 Bryan Oviedo   49'
DM 17 Yeltsin Tejeda
CM 10 Bryan Ruiz (c)   58'
CM 5 Celso Borges   58'
RW 21 Alonso Martínez   76'
CF 12 Joel Campbell   72'
LW 11 Randall Leal   58'
Substitutions:
DF 22 Joseph Mora   49'
FW 7 Johan Venegas   58'
MF 13 Allan Cruz   58'
FW 2 Ariel Lassiter   58'
MF 20 Gerson Torres   72'
Manager:
  Rónald González Brenes

Man of the Match:
Luis López (Honduras)[24]

Assistant referees:[25]
Iroots Appleton (Antigua and Barbuda)
Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)
Fourth official:
Tristley Bassue (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Video assistant referee:
Chris Penso (United States)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Erick Miranda (Mexico)

Final

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United States  3–2 (a.e.t.)  Mexico
Report


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico
GK 1 Zack Steffen   69'
CB 15 Mark McKenzie   86'
CB 6 John Brooks   10'
CB 13 Tim Ream   83'
RM 22 DeAndre Yedlin   90+4'   105+1'
CM 8 Weston McKennie
CM 23 Kellyn Acosta   49'
LM 2 Sergiño Dest   60'
RW 7 Giovanni Reyna   83'
CF 9 Josh Sargent   68'
LW 10 Christian Pulisic (c)   115'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Timothy Weah   60'
FW 16 Jordan Pefok   68'
GK 12 Ethan Horvath   69'
MF 17 Sebastian Lletget   83'
MF 4 Tyler Adams   83'
DF 20 Reggie Cannon   105+1'
Manager:
Gregg Berhalter
 
GK 13 Guillermo Ochoa (c)
CB 2 Néstor Araujo
CB 4 Edson Álvarez   117'
CB 15 Héctor Moreno   100'
RM 21 Luis Rodríguez
CM 16 Héctor Herrera   90+2'   100'
CM 8 Carlos Rodríguez   66'
LM 23 Jesús Gallardo
RW 17 Jesús Corona   66'
CF 20 Uriel Antuna   78'
LW 22 Hirving Lozano   111'
Substitutions:
DF 7 Luis Romo   66'
FW 9 Henry Martín   66'
MF 14 Diego Lainez   78'
DF 3 Carlos Salcedo   100'
MF 18 Andrés Guardado   120+10'   100'
MF 10 Orbelín Pineda   117'
Manager:
  Gerardo Martino   110'

Man of the Match:
Ethan Horvath (United States)[27]

Assistant referees:[25]
Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago)
Jassett Kerr-Wilson (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Statistics

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Goalscorers

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There were 10 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

1 goal

Awards

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CONCACAF announced the following squad as the best eleven of the finals after the conclusion of the tournament.[28]

Weston McKennie was named MVP of the tournament, having scored a total of four goals in league and tournament play.[29]

Best XI
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Luis López   John Brooks
  Francisco Calvo
  Néstor Araujo
  Weston McKennie
  Héctor Herrera
  Giovanni Reyna
  Edwin Rodríguez
  Diego Lainez
  Christian Pulisic
  Alberth Elis

Notes

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  1. ^ Though listed with a 17:30 kick-off time,[14] the match began at 17:36.[15]
  2. ^ Though listed with a 20:00 kick-off time,[19] the match began at 20:36.[15]
  3. ^ Though listed with a 16:30 kick-off time,[21] the match began at 16:36.[22]
  4. ^ Though listed with a 19:00 kick-off time,[26] the match actually began at 19:36.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Denver to host first-ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2021". CONCACAF. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. edge Mexico in thrilling style to win first CNLF". CONCACAF. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Texas to Host First-Ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2020". CONCACAF. March 9, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "CONCACAF confirms plans to rollout VAR in 2021 club and men's national team competitions". CONCACAF. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Regulations CONCACAF Nations League 2018/20 Edition" (PDF). res.cloudinary.com. CONCACAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  6. ^ "Concacaf Announces Updated September Ranking and Gold Cup Seeded Nations". CONCACAF.com. August 31, 2018. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Concacaf Statement regarding the suspension of the Concacaf Nations League Finals, Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers and Flow Caribbean Club Championship". CONCACAF. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "CONCACAF Nations League Finals rescheduled for June 2021". CONCACAF. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "Concacaf and CBS Sports agree to multi-year media rights partnership for Concacaf Nations League and new Concacaf women's national team competitions". CONCACAF. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Final 23-player rosters confirmed for 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Officials Appointed for 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  14. ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (June 3, 2021). "USMNT vs. Honduras kickoff: 5:36 pm local (7:36 ET). TV: CBS Sports Network, Univision, TUDN. Mexico-Costa Rica match listed at 8 pm local but won't kick off until 8:36 local (Univision, TUDN)" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (June 3, 2021). "Jordan Siebatcheu's late goal gives USMNT ugly 1–0 win over Honduras in Nations League semifinal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  17. ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 3, 2021). "You have voted! Jordan Siebatcheu is our MOTM!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF Semifinals". CONCACAF. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  20. ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 4, 2021). "¡Guillermo Ochoa el penal definitivo para darle el pase a Selección Nacional de México la final de la Liga de Naciones! ¡Felicidades al Jugador del Partido!" [Guillermo Ochoa's penalty save to give the Mexico national team a place in the final of the Nations League! Congratulations to the Man of the Match!] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved June 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  22. ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (June 6, 2021). "Concacaf Nations League matchday – 3rd-place game: Costa Rica v Honduras, 4:36 pm local kickoff/6:36 ET (UniMas, TUDN, Paramount+). Final: United States v Mexico, 7:36 pm local kickoff/9:36 ET (CBS Sports Network, Univision, TUDN, Paramount+)" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ a b Keeler, Sean (June 6, 2021). "Highlands Ranch native Ethan Horvath, Christian Pulisic lift U.S. to 3–2 win over Mexico". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  24. ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 6, 2021). "Luis López ataja el último penal y Honduras gana el tercer lugar de CNL. ¡Felicidades al Jugador del Partido!" [Luis López saves the last penalty and Honduras wins third place in the CNL. Congratulations to the Man of the Match!] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF 3rd Place Match and Final". CONCACAF. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  26. ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  27. ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 6, 2021). "Ethan Horvath's heroic save, gives the USMNT the CNL Championship win! Congratulations, Man of the Match!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 7, 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved June 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Weston McKennie of US has won the @ScotiabankFC Best Player Award". Twitter. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
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