2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States |
| Dates | 3–6 June |
| Teams | 4 |
| 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 played | 4 |
| Goals scored | 10 (2.5 per match) |
| Attendance | 144,198 (36,050 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Ten players (1 goal each) |
2023 → | |
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 tournament was held in the United States from 3 to 6 June 2021,[1] and was contested by the four group winners of Nations League A. The tournament consisted of two semi-finals, a third place play-off, and 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.[2]
Format
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 9 March 2020. All matches in the tournament utilised 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
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)
|
19 November 2019 | 2 | 20 |
| B | Mexico
|
15 November 2019 | 1 | 11 |
| C | Honduras
|
13 October 2019 | 4 | 67 |
| D | Costa Rica
|
17 November 2019 | 3 | 50 |
Schedule
The tournament was originally to be held in Texas from 4 to 7 June 2020.[3] However, the tournament was postponed on 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[7] On 27 July 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021,[8] though on 22 September 2020 CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.[9]
On 24 February 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the dates for the rescheduled CONCACAF Nations League Finals: 3 to 6 June 2021, with the venue and times to be released at a later date.[10]
On 9 May 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.[11]
Seeding
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
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 9 |
| 4 | D | Costa Rica
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
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]
Venues
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 as the new hosts of the competition on 15 April 2021, with Empower Field at Mile High hosting the two semi-finals, third place play-off, and final.[1]
| Denver |
|---|
| Empower Field at Mile High |
| Capacity: 76,125 |
 |
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.[11] The final squads of 23 players (including three goalkeepers) had to be submitted by 27 May 2021, seven days prior to 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
On 24 May 2021, CONCACAF announced the fourteen officials for the tournament.[13]
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Referees
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Assistant referees
|
Video assistant referees
|
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).[5]
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 3 June – Denver | ||||||
| Honduras | 0 | |||||
| 6 June – Denver | ||||||
| United States | 1 | |||||
| United States (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||
| 3 June – Denver | ||||||
| Mexico | 2 | |||||
| Mexico (p) | 0 (5) | |||||
| Costa Rica | 0 (4) | |||||
| Third place play-off | ||||||
| 6 June – Denver | ||||||
| Honduras (p) | 2 (5) | |||||
| Costa Rica | 2 (4) | |||||
All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).[11]
Semi-finals
Honduras vs United States
| Honduras | 0–1 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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     Honduras
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     United States
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[18]
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Mexico vs Costa Rica
| Mexico | 0–0 | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
| 5–4 | ||
     Mexico
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   Costa Rica
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[18]
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Third place play-off
| Honduras | 2–2 | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
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Report | |
| Penalties | ||
| 5–4 | ||
Honduras
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    Costa Rica
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[25]
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Final
| United States | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
     United States
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Mexico
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[25]
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Statistics
Goalscorers
There were 10 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.
1 goal
Awards
- Best XI
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 4 goals in league and tournament play.[29]
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis López
|
John Brooks Francisco Calvo Néstor Araujo
|
Weston McKennie Héctor Herrera Giovanni Reyna Edwin Rodríguez
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Diego Lainez Christian Pulisic Alberth Elis
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Notes
- ^ Though listed with a 17:30 kick-off time,[14] the match actually began at 17:36.[15]
- ^ Adams was booked on the substitutes' bench, despite not playing any part in the match.
- ^ Though listed with a 20:00 kick-off time,[19] the match actually began at 20:36.[15]
- ^ Though listed with a 16:30 kick-off time,[21] the match actually began at 16:36.[22]
- ^ Though listed with a 19:00 kick-off time,[26] the match actually began at 19:36.[22]
References
- ^ a b "Denver to host first-ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2021". CONCACAF. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "U.S. edge Mexico in thrilling style to win first CNLF". CONCACAF. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "Texas to Host First-Ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2020". CONCACAF. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ "CONCACAF confirms plans to rollout VAR in 2021 club and men's national team competitions". CONCACAF. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Regulations CONCACAF Nations League 2018/20 Edition" (PDF). res.cloudinary.com. CONCACAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Concacaf Announces Updated September Ranking and Gold Cup Seeded Nations". CONCACAF.com. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Concacaf Statement regarding the suspension of the Concacaf Nations League Finals, Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers and Flow Caribbean Club Championship". CONCACAF. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "CONCACAF Nations League Finals rescheduled for June 2021". CONCACAF. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Concacaf and CBS Sports agree to multi-year media rights partnership for Concacaf Nations League and new Concacaf women's national team competitions". CONCACAF. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Final 23-player rosters confirmed for 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Officials Appointed for 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (3 June 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 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (3 June 2021). "Jordan Siebatcheu's late goal gives USMNT ugly 1–0 win over Honduras in Nations League semifinal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (3 June 2021). "You have voted! Jordan Siebatcheu is our MOTM!" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF Semifinals". CONCACAF. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (4 June 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 4 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (6 June 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 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Keeler, Sean (6 June 2021). "Highlands Ranch native Ethan Horvath, Christian Pulisic lift U.S. to 3–2 win over Mexico". The Denver Post. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (6 June 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 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF 3rd Place Match and Final". CONCACAF. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (6 June 2021). "Ethan Horvath's heroic save, gives the USMNT the CNL Championship win! Congratulations, Man of the Match!" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (7 June 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 June 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Weston McKennie of US has won the @ScotiabankFC Best Player Award". Twitter. Retrieved 2 November 2021.