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The USMNT marks their return to the World Cup vs. Wales on Monday, November 21 in Group B.
The United States had to wait more than eight years to play on the world stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, but this time navigated CONCACAF qualification by finishing third in an eight-team table.
Wales meanwhile have had to wait even longer as Gareth Bale will lead the team in their first World Cup since 1958.
The USMNT is back at the World Cup for the first time in over eight years since Brazil 2014
They qualified for the tournament after finishing second in UEFA’s Group E before beating Ukraine in the playoff final.
The Americans look set to enter the game with a rare clean bill of health as Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie will make their mark in their first World Cup appearances.
There are slightly bigger concerns about the fitness of Bale, who barely played for LAFC after joining the club this summer, but his MLS Cup equalizer showed he can still do world-class magic in big moments.
Gareth Bale, seen with Jonny Williams, will try to lead Wales to the knockout round
With the clash fast approaching, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know about the opening match of the 2022 World Cup below.
When is USAA versus Wales?
The game starts on Monday, November 21. It starts at 7pm in the UK, 2pm EST USA and 6am Tuesday in Australia.
Date: Monday, November 21
Time: 7:00 ampm (UK), 2am (US) and 6am on Tuesday (Australian Eastern Time)
How to watch the match
Fans in the UK can watch the match on ITV and ITV Hub.
Meanwhile, viewers from the US – and there will be quite a few – can watch on FOX and Telemundo (in Spanish). The match can also be streamed on fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Peacock Premium, Vidgo and Sling Blue.
Australian viewers will be able to tune in to the match via SBS, which will televise every match during the 2022 World Cup. SBS On Demand will also stream the USA v Wales game.
Huge TV ratings are expected for the USMNT in America during the tournament
If you can’t watch the match live, you can relive the action on the FIFA YouTube channel (worldwide). The official YouTube channel will post highlights after each game.
U.S: FOX, Telemundo, fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Peacock Premium, Vidgo, Sling Blu
UK: ITV and ITV Hub
Australia: SBS and SBS On Demand
Where is USA vs. Wales played?
The match will take place at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, also known as Al Rayyan Stadium.
The stadium has a capacity of 44,740 and is located in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
It opened in 2003 and is currently home to both Al-Rayyan Sports Club and Al-Kharitiyath Sports Club.
The match will take place at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
There will be six group stage matches and one round of 16 matches.
Place: Al Rayyan, Qatar
Stadium: Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
US vs. Wales: team news
The USMNT is likely to field a strong European line-up as Pulisic (Chelsea), McKennie (Juventus), Adams (Leeds United), Yunus Musah (Valencia) and Matt Turner (Arsenal) are expected to be part of the starting line-up. XI.
Elsewhere on the field, Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tim Weah (Lille) and Sergino Dest (AC Milan, hired from Barcelona) could also play an important role.
On the Welsh side, Bale is of course the main player, but he will need help if Wales wants to participate in this tournament.
Brenden Aaronson looks set to play an important role, either as a super substitute or in the starting eleven
Daniel James (Fulham), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Aaron Ramsey (Nice) and Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forrest) will be hoping to ease the star’s attacking burden, while Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) should be reliable at the back.
United States
keepers: Ethan Horvath, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergino Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman
midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan
Forward: Jesus Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Haji Wright
Wales
Keepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies
Defenders: Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Ben Cabango, Chris Mepham, Chris Gunter, Connor Roberts, Neco Williams, Ethan Amapdu, Tom Lockyer (Luton)
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Harry Wilson, Joe Morrell, Matthew Smith, Dylan Levitt, Sorba Thomas, Rubin Colwill, Jonny Williams
Forward: Gareth Bale, Daniel James, Mark Harris, Kieffer Moore, Brennan Johnson
Head to head record
The sides have only two previous encounters, with the USMNT undefeated in a pair of friendlies.
The US defeated Wales 2-0 in 2003, while the two sides held each other to a 0-0 draw in December 2020.
2003: USA 2- Wales 0
2020: USA 0- Wales 0
Wales will seek their first-ever victory at the USMNT in Qatar, in the pair’s third meeting
Group B matches
England vs Iran – Monday 21 November
USA vs Wales – Monday 21 November
Wales vs Iran – Friday 25 November
England vs USA – Friday 25 November
Wales vs England – Tuesday 29 November
Iran vs USA – Tuesday, November 29