2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

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.

Not to be confused with 2021 CONCACAF Nations League final, the final match of the Nations League.

2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
Tournament details
Host countryUnited States
DatesJune 3–6
Teams4
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 played4
Goals scored10 (2.5 per match)
Attendance144,198 (36,050 per match)
Top scorer(s)Ten players
(1 goal each)

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

The 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

The 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 November 17, 2019 3 50

Schedule

The 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

The 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
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) away goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) drawing of lots (Regulations Article 12.9).[5]
(H) Hosts

Venues

Initially, 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
Main article: 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals squads

Each 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

On May 24, 2021, CONCACAF announced the fourteen officials for the tournament.[13]

Bracket

In 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-finalsFinal
 
      
 
June 3 – Denver, CO
 
 
 Honduras0
 
June 6 – Denver, CO
 
 United States1
 
 United States (a.e.t.)3
 
June 3 – Denver, CO
 
 Mexico2
 
 Mexico (p)0 (5)
 
 
 Costa Rica0 (4)
 
Third place play-off
 
 
June 6 – Denver, CO
 
 
 Honduras (p)2 (5)
 
 
 Costa Rica2 (4)

All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).[11]

Semi-finals

Honduras vs United States
Honduras 0–1 United States
Report
  • Pefok 89'
Attendance: 34,451[16]
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Honduras
United States
GK22Luis López
RB23Diego Rodríguez 57' 65'
CB3Maynor Figueroa (c)
CB4Marcelo Pereira 74'
LB2Kevin Álvarez
RM17Jonathan Toro 63'
CM20Deybi Flores
CM10Alexander López 64'
LM11Rigoberto Rivas 74'
CF9Anthony Lozano
CF7Alberth Elis 90+6'
Substitutions:
MF8Edwin Rodríguez 63'
MF6Bryan Acosta 75' 64'
DF5Éver Alvarado 65'
MF14Boniek García 74'
MF21Jhow Benavídez 74'
Manager:
Fabián Coito
GK1Zack Steffen (c)
RB2Sergiño Dest
CB6John Brooks
CB15Mark McKenzie 84'
LB5Antonee Robinson 78'
CM8Weston McKennie
CM14Jackson Yueill 83'
RW7Giovanni Reyna 78'
AM17Sebastian Lletget
LW10Christian Pulisic 90+4'
CF9Josh Sargent 78'
Substitutions:
FW11Brenden Aaronson 78'
DF20Reggie Cannon 78'
FW16Jordan Pefok 78'
MF23Kellyn Acosta 83'
DF3Matt Miazga 90+4'
Other disciplinary actions:
MF4Tyler Adams 86'
Manager:
Gregg Berhalter

Man of the Match:
Jordan Pefok (United States)[17]

Assistant referees:[18]
Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)
Jassett Kerr-Wilson (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Reon Radix (Grenada)
Video assistant referee:
Erick Miranda (Mexico)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Mexico vs Costa Rica
Mexico 0–0 Costa Rica
Report
Penalties
 5–4
Attendance: 34,451[16]
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)

Mexico
Costa Rica
GK13Guillermo Ochoa
CB2Néstor Araujo
CB4Edson Álvarez 84'
CB15Héctor Moreno 90+3'
RM20Uriel Antuna 90'
CM16Héctor Herrera 78'
CM18Andrés Guardado (c) 58'
LM19Gerardo Arteaga 68'
RW14Diego Lainez 58'
CF9Henry Martín 58'
LW22Hirving Lozano
Substitutions:
DF21Luis Rodríguez 58'
DF7Luis Romo 58'
FW11Alan Pulido 58'
DF23Jesús Gallardo 68'
MF10Orbelín Pineda 78'
Manager:
Gerardo Martino
GK23Leonel Moreira
RB4Keysher Fuller
CB6Óscar Duarte
CB15Francisco Calvo 21'
LB8Bryan Oviedo
CM10Bryan Ruiz (c) 62'
CM17Yeltsin Tejeda
CM5Celso Borges 82'
RW21Alonso Martínez 54' 62'
CF12Joel Campbell 85'
LW11Randall Leal 85'
Substitutions:
FW2Ariel Lassiter 62'
MF13Allan Cruz 90' 62'
MF14Bernald Alfaro 82'
FW7Johan Venegas 85'
FW9Jurguens Montenegro 85'
Manager:
Rónald González Brenes

Man of the Match:
Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)[20]

Assistant referees:[18]
Juan Tipaz (Guatemala)
Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago)
Fourth official:
Tristley Bassue (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Chris Penso (United States)

Third place play-off
Honduras 2–2 Costa Rica
 Report
Penalties
 5–4
Attendance: 37,648[23]
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)

Honduras
Costa Rica
GK22Luis López
RB2Kevin Álvarez 70'
CB4Marcelo Pereira
CB3Maynor Figueroa (c)
LB23Diego Rodríguez 78'
RM11Rigoberto Rivas 46'
CM20Deybi Flores
CM6Bryan Acosta
LM8Edwin Rodríguez 78'
CF7Alberth Elis
CF9Anthony Lozano 63'
Substitutions:
MF10Alexander López 46'
FW12Jorge Benguché 63'
DF5Éver Alvarado 78'
FW17Jonathan Toro 78'
Manager:
Fabián Coito
GK23Leonel Moreira
RB4Keysher Fuller
CB6Óscar Duarte
CB15Francisco Calvo
LB8Bryan Oviedo 49'
DM17Yeltsin Tejeda
CM10Bryan Ruiz (c) 58'
CM5Celso Borges 58'
RW21Alonso Martínez 76'
CF12Joel Campbell 72'
LW11Randall Leal 58'
Substitutions:
DF22Joseph Mora 49'
FW7Johan Venegas 58'
MF13Allan Cruz 58'
FW2Ariel Lassiter 58'
MF20Gerson Torres 72'
Manager:
Rónald González Brenes

Man of the Match:
Luis López (Honduras)[24]

Assistant referees:[25]
Iroots Appleton (Antigua and Barbuda)
Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)
Fourth official:
Tristley Bassue (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Video assistant referee:
Chris Penso (United States)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Erick Miranda (Mexico)

Final
Main article: 2021 CONCACAF Nations League final
United States 3–2 (a.e.t.) Mexico
 Report
Attendance: 37,648[23]
Referee: John Pitti (Panama)
United States
Mexico
GK1Zack Steffen 69'
CB15Mark McKenzie 86'
CB6John Brooks 10'
CB13Tim Ream 83'
RM22DeAndre Yedlin 90+4' 105+1'
CM8Weston McKennie
CM23Kellyn Acosta 49'
LM2Sergiño Dest 60'
RW7Giovanni Reyna 83'
CF9Josh Sargent 68'
LW10Christian Pulisic (c) 115'
Substitutions:
FW21Timothy Weah 60'
FW16Jordan Pefok 68'
GK12Ethan Horvath 69'
MF17Sebastian Lletget 83'
MF4Tyler Adams 83'
DF20Reggie Cannon 105+1'
Manager:
Gregg Berhalter
GK13Guillermo Ochoa (c)
CB2Néstor Araujo
CB4Edson Álvarez 117'
CB15Héctor Moreno 100'
RM21Luis Rodríguez
CM16Héctor Herrera 90+2' 100'
CM8Carlos Rodríguez 66'
LM23Jesús Gallardo
RW17Jesús Corona 66'
CF20Uriel Antuna 78'
LW22Hirving Lozano 111'
Substitutions:
DF7Luis Romo 66'
FW9Henry Martín 66'
MF14Diego Lainez 78'
DF3Carlos Salcedo 100'
MF18Andrés Guardado 120+10' 100'
MF10Orbelín Pineda 117'
Manager:
Gerardo Martino 110'

Man of the Match:
Ethan Horvath (United States)[27]

Assistant referees:[25]
Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago)
Jassett Kerr-Wilson (Jamaica)
Fourth official:
Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 10 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

1 goal

Awards

CONCACAF 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

Notes
  1. Though listed with a 17:30 kick-off time,[14] the match began at 17:36.[15]
  2. Though listed with a 20:00 kick-off time,[19] the match began at 20:36.[15]
  3. Though listed with a 16:30 kick-off time,[21] the match began at 16:36.[22]
  4. Though listed with a 19:00 kick-off time,[26] the match actually began at 19:36.[22]

References
  1. "Denver to host first-ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2021". CONCACAF. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. "U.S. edge Mexico in thrilling style to win first CNLF". CONCACAF. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. "Texas to Host First-Ever Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2020". CONCACAF. March 9, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  4. "CONCACAF confirms plans to rollout VAR in 2021 club and men's national team competitions". CONCACAF. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "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.
  8. "New Concacaf Qualifiers announced for regional qualification to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". CONCACAF. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  9. "CONCACAF Nations League Finals rescheduled for June 2021". CONCACAF. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  10. "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.
  11. "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  12. "Final 23-player rosters confirmed for 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  13. "Officials Appointed for 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals". CONCACAF. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  14. "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 3, 2021). "You have voted! Jordan Siebatcheu is our MOTM!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF Semifinals". CONCACAF. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  20. 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.
  21. "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. "Match officials appointed for 2021 CNLF 3rd Place Match and Final". CONCACAF. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  26. "2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals provisional rosters and kick off times confirmed". CONCACAF. May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  27. 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.
  28. CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (June 7, 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved June 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  29. "Weston McKennie of US has won the @ScotiabankFC Best Player Award". Twitter. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
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