Prediction: USA vs Trinidad and Tobago

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

Group D of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on Sunday, with the USA facing Trinidad and Tobago at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

The Americans enter the tournament on the back of a 4-0 loss to Switzerland in a recent friendly, while the Soca Warriors suffered a 2-1 defeat to Costa Rica in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

USA

It’s been an undewhelming 2025 campaign for the United States, traditionally one of CONCACAF’s powerhouses. Earlier this year, the Americans saw their three-time grip on the CONCACAF Nations League title come to an end, failing to earn a medal in the latest edition of the tournament.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side enters the Gold Cup on a four-game losing streak across all competitions, having failed to a single shot on target in their recent loss to Switzerland. Despite their current form, the US remains firm favourites to top Group D, boasting a 19-match unbeaten run in Gold Cup group-stage action dating back to 2013. They have also prevailed in each of their last three competitive matches against Caribbean nations — all against Jamaica — by an aggregate scoreline of 8-3.

The Americans have historically dominated Trinidad and Tobago on home soil, winning all 15 previous home encounters without conceding a goal to the Soca Warriors in the United States since the turn of the century.

Team News

The squad will be without several key players. Sergino Dest misses out due to an ACL injury, Christian Pulisic is taking a break after a demanding club season, Patrick Schulte is dealing with an oblique issue, and Zack Steffen is sidelined with a knee injury.

With the Club World Cup overlapping the Gold Cup, Giovanni Reyna, Timothy Weah, and Weston McKennie are all unavailable, while Joshua Sargent was left out of the squad.

In the recent friendly against Switzerland, Sebastian Berhalter earned his first senior cap, while Paxten and Brenden Aaronson became the first brothers to start a match for the U.S. men’s team since Ken and Steve Snow in 1988.

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago are making their fourth consecutive appearance at the Gold Cup and will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2015.

Led by Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke, the Soca Warriors come into the tournament having lost three of their last four matches, conceding a total of 11 goals in that stretch.

However, they have made solid starts in recent editions, going unbeaten in their last two opening group games and keeping clean sheets on matchday one in both the 2021 and 2023 tournaments.

Scoring first has historically been crucial to their group-stage success; they have not lost a group match after opening the scoring since a 2-1 defeat to El Salvador in June 2007.

Trinidad and Tobago have not defeated a North American opponent in the Gold Cup since a 4-0 victory over Mexico in 1973 — more than 50 years ago. Their most recent win against the United States came in the 2023 Nations League (2-1), although their best result on U.S. soil remains a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier back in May 1989.

Team News

In their recent loss to Costa Rica, Josiah Trimmingham suffered a knee injury and will miss Sunday’s clash, with Justin Garcia called up as his replacement.

Veteran defender Joevin Jones is just three caps away from reaching 100 appearances for his country and can sur Carlos Edwards for fifth on Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time list. Alvin Jones, who was sent off during the World Cup qualifier earlier this week, is eligible to feature in this match.

Levi Garcia offered a glimmer of hope in the Costa Rica defeat by scoring his 10th international goal two minutes before the hour mark.

Conclusion

It’s been a rough few months for the United States, but they consistently rise to the occasion at the Gold Cup. History is firmly on their side against Trinidad and Tobago on home soil, having won the last four encounters in the U.S. by a staggering combined scoreline of 22-0.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet