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 Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, United States, and was contested by the four group winners of League A. The event consisted of two semi-finals, a third place play-off, and a final to determine the inaugural champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The United States defeated Mexico 3–2 after extra time in the final to become the first champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Format The CONCACAF 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), 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.
In the Finals, if the scores were level at the end of normal time: 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.
Venue 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. However, the planned venues were put into doubt following the tournament's suspension.
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.
CityStadium DenverEmpower Field at Mile High Capacity: 76,125
Qualified teams The four group winners of League A qualified for the Nations League Finals. Group Winners Date ofqualification CONCACAF RankingsJune 2021 FIFA RankingsMay 2021 A (host) 2 20 B 1 11 C 4 67 D 3 50
Seeding
The four teams were ranked based on their results in the group stage to determine the semi-final matchups.
Squads
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. 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.
Match officials On May 24, 2021, CONCACAF announced the fourteen officials for the tournament.
Referees Reon Radix John Pitti Oshane Nation Bryan López Tristley Bassue
Assistant referees Iroots Appleton Jassett Kerr-Wilson Juan Tipaz Caleb Wales Zachari Zeegelaar
Video assistant referees Drew Fischer Erick Miranda Daneon Parchment Chris Penso
Schedule The tournament was originally to be held in Texas from June 4 to 7, 2020. However, the tournament was postponed on 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On July 27, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021, though on September 22, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.
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.
On May 9, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.
Bracket 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).
All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).
Semi-finals
Honduras vs United States
GK 22Luis LópezRB 23Diego Rodríguez CB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c)CB 4 Marcelo Pereira LB 2 Kevin ÁlvarezRM 17Jonathan Toro CM 20Deybi FloresCM 10Alexander López LM 11Rigoberto Rivas CF 9 Anthony LozanoCF 7 Alberth Elis Substitutions:MF 8 Edwin Rodríguez MF 6 Bryan Acosta DF 5 Éver Alvarado MF 14Boniek García MF 21Jhow Benavídez Manager: Fabián Coito GK 1 Zack Steffen (c)RB 2 Sergiño DestCB 6 John BrooksCB 15Mark McKenzie LB 5 Antonee Robinson CM 8 Weston McKennieCM 14Jackson Yueill RW 7 Giovanni Reyna AM 17Sebastian LletgetLW 10Christian Pulisic CF 9 Josh Sargent Substitutions:FW 11Brenden Aaronson DF 20Reggie Cannon FW 16Jordan Pefok MF 23Kellyn Acosta DF 3 Matt Miazga Other disciplinary actions:MF 4 Tyler Adams Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Man of the Match: Jordan Pefok (United States)
Assistant referees: 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
GK 13Guillermo OchoaCB 2 Néstor AraujoCB 4 Edson Álvarez CB 15Héctor Moreno RM 20Uriel Antuna CM 16Héctor Herrera CM 18Andrés Guardado (c) LM 19Gerardo Arteaga RW 14Diego Lainez CF 9 Henry Martín LW 22Hirving LozanoSubstitutions:DF 21Luis Rodríguez DF 7 Luis Romo FW 11Alan Pulido DF 23Jesús Gallardo MF 10Orbelín Pineda Manager: Gerardo Martino GK 23Leonel MoreiraRB 4 Keysher FullerCB 6 Óscar DuarteCB 15Francisco Calvo LB 8 Bryan OviedoCM 10Bryan Ruiz (c) CM 17Yeltsin TejedaCM 5 Celso Borges RW 21Alonso Martínez CF 12Joel Campbell LW 11Randall Leal Substitutions:FW 2 Ariel Lassiter MF 13Allan Cruz MF 14Bernald Alfaro FW 7 Johan Venegas FW 9 Jurguens Montenegro Manager: Rónald González Brenes
Man of the Match: Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)
Assistant referees: 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
GK 22Luis LópezRB 2 Kevin Álvarez CB 4 Marcelo PereiraCB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c)LB 23Diego Rodríguez RM 11Rigoberto Rivas CM 20Deybi FloresCM 6 Bryan AcostaLM 8 Edwin Rodríguez CF 7 Alberth ElisCF 9 Anthony Lozano Substitutions:MF 10Alexander López FW 12Jorge Benguché DF 5 Éver Alvarado FW 17Jonathan Toro Manager: Fabián Coito GK 23Leonel MoreiraRB 4 Keysher FullerCB 6 Óscar DuarteCB 15Francisco CalvoLB 8 Bryan Oviedo DM 17Yeltsin TejedaCM 10Bryan Ruiz (c) CM 5 Celso Borges RW 21Alonso Martínez CF 12Joel Campbell LW 11Randall Leal Substitutions:DF 22Joseph Mora FW 7 Johan Venegas MF 13Allan Cruz FW 2 Ariel Lassiter MF 20Gerson Torres Manager: Rónald González Brenes
Man of the Match: Luis López (Honduras)
Assistant referees: 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
Statistics
Goalscorers
Awards CONCACAF announced the following squad as the best eleven of the Finals after the conclusion of the tournament.
Weston McKennie was named MVP of the tournament, having scored a total of four goals across the group stage and Finals. Luis López was named best goalkeeper.
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
References
External links