Key events
England are in full If It Ain’t Broke mode. Having beaten Iran 6-2, Gareth Southgate names the same starting XI. That means Harry Kane has passed a fitness test on that dodgy ankle, while Harry Maguire has got over the illness that truncated his contribution last Monday.
Gregg Berhalter makes just one change to the side that started the 1-1 draw with Wales. Haji Wright of Turkish Süper Lig club Antalyaspor replaces Josh Sargent of Norwich City. There are five Premier League players starting tonight for the US: captain Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson (Fulham) and Matt Turner (Arsenal).
The teams
England: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Bellingham, Rice, Saka, Mount, Sterling, Kane.
Subs: Walker, Grealish, Henderson, Rashford, Pope, Phillips, Dier, Coady, Alexander-Arnold, Foden, White, Ramsdale, Wilson, Gallagher.
USA: Turner, Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson, McKennie, Adams, Musah, Weah, Wright, Pulisic.
Subs: Reyna, Ferreira, Aaronson, Horvath, de la Torre, Long, Morris, Roldan, Moore, Carter-Vickers, Yedlin, Acosta, Sargent, Johnson, Scally.
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela).
Tonight’s USMNT. One change from the Wales match, with Haji Wright replacing Josh Sargent.
The England team. Harry Kane fit, then.
This is how Group B looks in the wake of Wales 0-2 Iran. Late, late heartbreak for Wales fans, who nevertheless gave Iran a wonderful reception as they went on a lap of honour.
Preamble
England first played the USA at the World Cup in 1950. As every schoolchild knows, it didn’t go well for them.
It didn’t go particularly well for them in 2010 either. Poor Rob.
Third time lucky? A win tonight for Gareth Southgate’s side will secure qualification for the knockout stage, and top spot in Group B. Hopes are high after that 6-2 rout of Iran. The USMNT’s unremarkable 1-1 draw with Wales isn’t quite so inspiring, but those two aforementioned World Cup meetings will give them succour, even if they’ve not beaten the English since the days of Graham Taylor. Kick-off is at 7pm GMT, 2pm ET and 10pm at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. انه يحدث! It’s on!
