USA vs Serbia live score, updates, highlights from USMNT’s first friendly after World Cup

The United States will close its 2023 January training camp with a pair of friendlies against quality international opposition as games against Serbia and Colombia cap two full weeks of practices.

As these two matches do not fall during a FIFA-sanctioned international window, the U.S. roster is made up of mostly domestic-based players and young talents whose clubs agreed to release them. European-based players are largely excluded with many of the USMNT stars in the middle of their club seasons.

With that, fans will be hoping to see the next wave of talent looking to burst onto the senior scene as the team gears up for a critical four-year World Cup cycle ahead of the 2026 tournament on home soil.

The acting U.S. head coach is assistant Anthony Hudson as U.S. Soccer reviews the status of World Cup head coach Gregg Berhalter amidst his expired contract and an investigation into a past domestic violence incident. 

The Sporting News will be following the USA vs. Serbia match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

MORE: Breaking down the candidates for USMNT head coach

USA vs Serbia live score

Goals:
None

Predicted lineups:

USA (4-3-3, right to left): Slonina (GK) — Gressel, Long, Neal, Tolkin — Williamson, Pomykal, Sonora — Zendejas, Vazquez, Sabbi.

Serbia (3-5-2, right to left): D. Petrovic (GK) — Veselinovic, Stojic, Mijailovic — N. Petrovic, Ivezic, Illic, Topic, Pantovic — Joveljic, Stulic.

USA vs Serbia live updates, highlights, commentary

120 mins to kick: This January camp is about the kids, and the next generation of talent earning a chance to be in the spotlight, but there is still plenty of talk around the stars of the U.S. squad, who are all competing in Europe amidst the January transfer window.

Weston McKennie is in the news recently, as the USMNT midfielder has developed into a quality player and is wanted by clubs in the Premier League. According to several reports, Arsenal and Leeds United are both chasing McKennie this January hoping to cut a deal in the wake of the scandal that cost Juventus a 15-point deduction in the standings and likely a shot at a Champions League place next year.

#Calciomercato | @juventusfc e @LUFC parlano di #McKennie: c’è l’ok del giocatore 🇺🇸 https://t.co/8Sn30nn76Z

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) January 24, 2023

USA vs Serbia lineups, team news

Fans would be excited to see young midfielder Paxten Aaronson in action, but the way Hudson spoke about him in the pre-match press conference made it seem like his time has not quite yet come. Instead, expect the more experienced Paxton Pomykal to get a look in the attacking midfield role, ahead of Eryk Williamson and Alan Sonora.

Up front, this will be a chance for forward Matthew Hoppe to work his way back into the national team fold, with the striker position wide open, or perhaps Brandon Vazquez could get a chance to impress.

USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Slonina (GK) — Gressel, Long, Neal, Tolkin — Williamson, Pomykal, Sonora — Zendejas, Vazquez, Sabbi.

#USMNT January camp head coach Anthony Hudson is speaking ahead of tomorrow’s friendly vs. Serbia.

Says it was “shocking” and “amazing” that Club America released Alejandro Zendejas for international duty. Seemed genuinely surprised it came together.

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) January 24, 2023

There are very few options for Serbia head coach Dragan Stojkovic with a roster of just 17 players.

MLS fans will recognize the presence of Dejan Joveljic who was exceptional for the LA Galaxy through the middle of last season, scoring 11 goals, with nine of those coming between late May and late August. He is the most-capped player on the Serbian roster with two appearances.

A player to watch is 21-year-old rising star Marko Ivezic, serving as captain of Serbian side Vozdovac and playing key minutes at defensive midfield this season.

Serbia projected starting lineup (3-5-2): D. Petrovic (GK) — Veselinovic, Stojic, Mijailovic — N. Petrovic, Ivezic, Illic, Topic, Pantovic — Joveljic, Stulic.

USA vs Serbia live stream, TV channel

• Date: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV channel (Spanish): Universo
• Streaming (English): HBO Max
• Streaming (Spanish): fuboTV, Peacock, Telemundo App

The USA vs. Serbia international friendly will be available to watch in English on HBO Max, the first USMNT match following the exclusive rights deal with Turner Sports, which runs through 2030.

The match is also available in Spanish on Universo, which is streamed via fuboTV. The stream can also be accessed by subscribers to NBC streaming platform Peacock.

Just a few days later, the U.S. will take on Colombia from Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of LAFC’s rival the LA Galaxy. That match will be shown in English on TNT, as Turner Sports will air select games on its cable properties throughout the year.

USA vs Serbia rosters, squads

Because this match does not fall during a designated FIFA international window, clubs do not have to release players for international duty.

Therefore, both teams have deployed a fringe roster that does not feature many star players on either side, with European-based players mostly absent.

USA squad vs. Serbia, Colombia

The U.S. squad for this match is incredibly young with a sprinkle of established veterans like Walker Zimmerman, Paul Arriola, and Kellyn Acosta alongside recognizable names Sean Johnson and Aaron Long. But besides those mainstays, there is a host of young talent fans will be excited to watch take the field.

Highly touted Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina, who just moved to Chelsea at 18 years old, is part of the squad and should get a look. Fellow teenager Paxten Aaronson, the younger brother of Leeds United and USMNT star Brenden Aaronson, is also on the roster after recently moving to German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

There is also plenty of talk surrounding forward Alejandro Zendejas, who accepted this call-up from the United States as he looks to make a decision on whether to represent the USA or Mexico. Appearing in these two friendlies would not cap-tie Zendejas to the United States, as only competitive fixtures can serve such a purpose, but a positive camp experience would go a long way in swaying his decision away from the southern neighbors. Having represented the United States at the youth level, Zendejas would need to complete a one-time switch to Mexico in order to be eligible to play for El Tri.

“Me siento orgulloso. Es un honor estar aquí y no todos tienen la suerte y la oportunidad de estar aquí.”

“I feel proud. It’s an honor to be here and not everyone has the luck and opportunity to be here” – @AlexZendejas8

— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) January 24, 2023

Serbia squad vs. USA

With the European league season in full swing, Serbia had few options for players to call in given that nearly all of their regulars are in the middle of their club season.

Only three total players on the entire roster have earned a prior senior international cap, and nobody has more than two caps to their name.

A host of players are from mid-table Serbian Superliga clubs Vozdovac, TSC Backa Topola, Cukaricki, and Vojvodina who are all significantly behind the top two clubs Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade in the title fight. A few players are also based in North America, which allowed for their availability in this match, as it takes place outside a normal FIFA international window.

Below is the full released roster for Serbia in the January, 2023 match against the United States.