The United States Men’s National team and Wales will open their World Cup campaign this Monday at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan)
Key Statistics
The USA have scored just once in their last three games.
They have a miserable recent record at the World Cup against European opposition, failing to win any of their last nine meetings (D4, L5).
They have won just two of their last six games (D2, L2).
Wales are winless in their last five games (D1, L4).
They have won just one of their last eight games (D2, L5).
Wales have lost just one of their last seven meetings with non-European sides, conceding just two goals across that run (W3, D3).
Head to head
The USA have never lost a head-to-head game against their opponents (W1, D1).
Latest performances in all competitions
USA: D-L-D-W-D
Wales: L-L-L-D-L
USA
After missing out in 2018, the United States will look to begin their 2022 World Cup campaign with a win when they face Wales in the second Group B game of the tournament.
Gregg Berhalter’s men booked their place in this competition via the automatic qualification route, albeit by the skin of their teeth, finishing above Costa Rica on goal difference alone to seal their place.
Having made it through, the Stars and Stripes could be confident considering their previous good record at the World Cup, progressing out of their group in four of their last seven tournaments.
They are currently ranked 16th in FIFA rankings and are, on paper, the favourites, alongside England, to win this group. However, they come into this tournament in indifferent form after failing to win any of their last three internationals (D2, L1), scoring just once in the process.
Perhaps facing Wales will increase morale, considering the USA have never lost an H2H against their opponents (W1, D1). Still, they also have a miserable recent record at the World Cup against European opposition, failing to win any of their last nine meetings (D4, L5).
Possible USA starting line-up
Matt Turner; Sergino Dest, Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah; Brenden Aaronson, Jesús Ferreira, Christian Pulisic.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Wales
Wales are currently ranked three places behind the USA but will quietly consider themselves the superior team in this tie, given their record against non-European teams.
The Dragons have lost just one of their last seven meetings with non-European sides, conceding just two goals across that run (W3, D3).
However, on the reverse side, they have little or no experience in this tournament, having not participated in it since 1958. And so it is a big day for Robert Page, who will become the first manager to lead Wales into a World Cup since Jimmy Murphy back in 1958.
This is their second-ever finals appearance, so they hope they will repeat their success in the qualifiers stage, where they dispatched Austria and Ukraine in the playoffs to book their ticket to Qatar.
Having progressed from their group in the 2016 and 2020 UEFA European Championships, they will fancy their chances in this group.
Possible Wales starting line-up
Wayne Hennessey; Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies; Connor Roberts, Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu, Neco Williams; Gareth Bale, Daniel James, Kieffer Moore.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| USA to win | Draw | Wales to win | |
| Odds | 2.40 | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Probability (%) | 39 | 32 | 29 |
Prediction
USA 2-1 Wales
