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 the Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, United States,[1] and was contested by the four group winners of Nations League A. The event consisted of two semi-finals, a third place play-off, and final to determine the inaugural champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States |
| Dates | June 3–6 |
| 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 United States defeated Mexico 3–2 after extra time in the final to become the first champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.[2]
Format
editThe 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 March 9, 2020. All matches in the tournament utilized 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
editThe 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)
|
November 19, 2019 | 2 | 20 |
| B | Mexico
|
November 15, 2019 | 1 | 11 |
| C | Honduras
|
October 13, 2019 | 4 | 67 |
| D | Costa Rica
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November 17, 2019 | 3 | 50 |
Schedule
editThe tournament was originally to be held in Texas from June 4 to 7, 2020.[3] However, the tournament was postponed on 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[7] On July 27, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021,[8] though on September 22, 2020 CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.[9]
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.[10]
On May 9, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.[11]
Seeding
editThe 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 (H)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 9 |
| 4 | D | Costa Rica
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
Venues
editInitially, 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, 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.[1]
| Denver, CO | |
|---|---|
| Empower Field at Mile High | |
| Capacity: 76,125 | |
|
Squads
editEach 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 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.[12]
Match officials
editOn May 24, 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
editIn 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 | |||||
| June 3 – Denver, CO | ||||||
| Honduras | 0 | |||||
| June 6 – Denver, CO | ||||||
| United States | 1 | |||||
| United States (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||
| June 3 – Denver, CO | ||||||
| Mexico | 2 | |||||
| Mexico (p) | 0 (5) | |||||
| Costa Rica | 0 (4) | |||||
| Third place play-off | ||||||
| June 6 – Denver, CO | ||||||
| Honduras (p) | 2 (5) | |||||
| Costa Rica | 2 (4) | |||||
Semi-finals
editHonduras vs United States
edit| Honduras | 0–1 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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     Honduras
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     United States
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|
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[18]
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Mexico vs Costa Rica
edit| Mexico | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
| 5–4 | ||
     Mexico
|
   Costa Rica
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[18]
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Third place play-off
edit| Honduras | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | 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
edit| 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
editGoalscorers
editThere were 10 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.
1 goal
Awards
editCONCACAF 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 four goals in league and tournament play.[29]
- 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
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Notes
edit- ^ Though listed with a 17:30 kick-off time,[14] the match began at 17:36.[15]
- ^ Though listed with a 20:00 kick-off time,[19] the match began at 20:36.[15]
- ^ Though listed with a 16:30 kick-off time,[21] the match began at 16:36.[22]
- ^ Though listed with a 19:00 kick-off time,[26] the match actually began at 19:36.[22]
References
edit- ^ a b "Denver to host first-ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2021". CONCACAF. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. edge Mexico in thrilling style to win first CNLF". CONCACAF. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Texas to Host First-Ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2020". CONCACAF. March 9, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "CONCACAF confirms plans to rollout VAR in 2021 club and men's national team competitions". CONCACAF. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Regulations CONCACAF Nations League 2018/20 Edition" (PDF). res.cloudinary.com. CONCACAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ "Concacaf Announces Updated September Ranking and Gold Cup Seeded Nations". CONCACAF.com. August 31, 2018. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 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. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ "CONCACAF Nations League Finals rescheduled for June 2021". CONCACAF. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 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. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Final 23-player rosters confirmed for 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ "Officials Appointed for 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (June 3, 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 June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (June 3, 2021). "Jordan Siebatcheu's late goal gives USMNT ugly 1–0 win over Honduras in Nations League semifinal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 3, 2021). "You have voted! Jordan Siebatcheu is our MOTM!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF Semifinals". CONCACAF. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 4, 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 June 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Goff, Steven [@SoccerInsider] (June 6, 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 June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Keeler, Sean (June 6, 2021). "Highlands Ranch native Ethan Horvath, Christian Pulisic lift U.S. to 3–2 win over Mexico". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 6, 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 June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF 3rd Place Match and Final". CONCACAF. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 6, 2021). "Ethan Horvath's heroic save, gives the USMNT the CNL Championship win! Congratulations, Man of the Match!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 7, 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved June 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Weston McKennie of US has won the @ScotiabankFC Best Player Award". Twitter. Retrieved November 2, 2021.