During the November international break, the United States Men's National Team will play a two-legged tie against Trinidad & Tobago in the Nations League Quarterfinals.

The USMNT beat Canada 2-0 in the final of last year's CONCACAF Nations League. 

Can the Stars and Stripes retain their crown in 2023/24?

Injuries hit Berhalter's squad

While the squad head coach Gregg Berhalter selected for this two-legged tie is strong enough to get the job done, the United States will be without a few key players against Trinidad & Tobago.

Defensive midfielder Tyler Adams is still out with a hamstring injury and is a huge miss, although the USMNT have coped without him for a few international windows recently. Lennard Maloney of Bundesliga club Heidenheim is likely to take the bulk of the minutes in what is normally Adams' role.

The more recent injuries were to Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic, both of whom are key attackers in Berhalter's system. Both players will miss the two games against Trinidad & Tobago.

Strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are healthy and in goalscoring form. The questions surround the players who will provide them with scoring chances.

Assuming Berhalter sticks with his beloved 4-3-3 formation, we could see any combination of Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Alex Zendejas, and Kevin Paredes on the flanks.

Click here for progress reports on American players plying their trade in Europe.

USMNT need big first leg win

The USMNT has already played Trinidad & Tobago in 2023, winning 6-0. The last time they played before that, in 2021, the USMNT won 7-0.

But both of those games were at home.

The Stars and Stripes still have demons to exorcize when they travel to Port of Spain, Trinidad. Six years and one month ago, they lost 2-1 in front of 1,500 people on a rainy night in Couva, Trinidad, to seal their fate of missing the 2018 World Cup.

The USMNT has not been back to Trinidad & Tobago since.

If they don't continue their trend of beating Trinidad & Tobago by huge margins at home, a young team missing its two leaders - Pulisic and Adams - will need to conquer its fears on the road.

Click here for all you need to know about the United States Men's National Team including recent results, upcoming matches, how to watch, history, and more.

USMNT Nations League Quarterfinals squad

Rusty Gorelick

• USA Men's Soccer Team
• CONCACAF Nations League
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