2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

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

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 Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, United States,^[1] and was contested by the four group winners of 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.

2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

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)
Best player(s)	Weston McKennie
Best goalkeeper	Luis López
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

The CONCACAF 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 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.

Venue

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.^[6]

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]

City	Stadium	Denver Location of the host city of the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
Denver	Empower Field at Mile High
Capacity: 76,125

Qualified teams

The four group winners of League A qualified for the Nations League Finals.

Group	Winners	Date of qualification	CONCACAF Rankings June 2021[7]	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

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

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Match officials

On May 24, 2021, CONCACAF announced the fourteen officials for the tournament.^[10]

Referees Reon Radix John Pitti Oshane Nation Bryan López Tristley Bassue

Assistant referees Iroots Appleton Jassett Kerr-Wilson Juan Tipaz Caleb Wales Zachari Zeegelaar

Video assistant referees Drew Fischer Erick Miranda Daneon Parchment Chris Penso

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.^[6] On July 27, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021,^[11] though on September 22, 2020 CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.^[12]

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.^[13]

On May 9, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.^[8]

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-finals				Final
	June 3 – Denver
	Honduras	0
					June 6 – Denver
	United States	1
					United States (a.e.t.)	3
	June 3 – Denver
					Mexico	2
	Mexico (p)	0 (5)
	Costa Rica	0 (4)
					Third place play-off
					June 6 – Denver
					Honduras (p)	2 (5)
					Costa Rica	2 (4)

All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).^[8]

Semi-finals

Honduras vs United States

June 3, 2021 (2021-06-03)

17:30^{[note 1]}

Honduras	0–1	United States
	Report	Pefok 89'

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

Attendance: 34,451^[16]

Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Honduras

United States

GK 22 Luis López RB 23 Diego Rodríguez  57'  65' CB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c) CB 4 Marcelo Pereira  74' LB 2 Kevin Álvarez RM 17 Jonathan Toro  63' CM 20 Deybi Flores CM 10 Alexander López  64' LM 11 Rigoberto Rivas  74' CF 9 Anthony Lozano CF 7 Alberth Elis  90+6' Substitutions: MF 8 Edwin Rodríguez  63' MF 6 Bryan Acosta  75'  64' DF 5 Éver Alvarado  65' MF 14 Boniek García  74' MF 21 Jhow Benavídez  74' Manager: Fabián Coito

GK 1 Zack Steffen (c) RB 2 Sergiño Dest CB 6 John Brooks CB 15 Mark McKenzie  84' LB 5 Antonee Robinson  78' CM 8 Weston McKennie CM 14 Jackson Yueill  83' RW 7 Giovanni Reyna  78' AM 17 Sebastian Lletget LW 10 Christian Pulisic  90+4' CF 9 Josh Sargent  78' Substitutions: FW 11 Brenden Aaronson  78' DF 20 Reggie Cannon  78' FW 16 Jordan Pefok  78' MF 23 Kellyn Acosta  83' DF 3 Matt Miazga  90+4' Other disciplinary actions: MF 4 Tyler 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

June 3, 2021 (2021-06-03)

20:00^{[note 2]}

Mexico	0–0 (a.e.t.)	Costa Rica
	Report
Penalties
Antuna Lozano Pineda Pulido Romo Gallardo	5–4	Venegas Duarte Alfaro Lassiter Calvo Cruz

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

Attendance: 34,451^[16]

Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)

Mexico

Costa Rica

GK 13 Guillermo Ochoa CB 2 Néstor Araujo CB 4 Edson Álvarez  84' CB 15 Héctor Moreno  90+3' RM 20 Uriel Antuna  90' CM 16 Héctor Herrera  78' CM 18 Andrés Guardado (c)  58' LM 19 Gerardo Arteaga  68' RW 14 Diego Lainez  58' CF 9 Henry Martín  58' LW 22 Hirving Lozano Substitutions: DF 21 Luis Rodríguez  58' DF 7 Luis Romo  58' FW 11 Alan Pulido  58' DF 23 Jesús Gallardo  68' MF 10 Orbelín Pineda  78' Manager: Gerardo Martino

GK 23 Leonel Moreira RB 4 Keysher Fuller CB 6 Óscar Duarte CB 15 Francisco Calvo  21' LB 8 Bryan Oviedo CM 10 Bryan Ruiz (c)  62' CM 17 Yeltsin Tejeda CM 5 Celso Borges  82' RW 21 Alonso Martínez  54'  62' CF 12 Joel Campbell  85' LW 11 Randall Leal  85' Substitutions: FW 2 Ariel Lassiter  62' MF 13 Allan Cruz  90'  62' MF 14 Bernald Alfaro  82' FW 7 Johan Venegas  85' FW 9 Jurguens 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

June 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)

16:30^{[note 3]}

Honduras	2–2 (a.e.t.)	Costa Rica
E. Rodríguez 48' Elis 80'	Report	Campbell 8' Calvo 85'
Penalties
A. López Elis Benguché Toro Acosta Alvarado	5–4	Venegas Calvo Lassiter Torres Mora Tejeda

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

Attendance: 37,648^[23]

Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)

Honduras

Costa Rica

GK 22 Luis López RB 2 Kevin Álvarez  70' CB 4 Marcelo Pereira CB 3 Maynor Figueroa (c) LB 23 Diego Rodríguez  78' RM 11 Rigoberto Rivas  46' CM 20 Deybi Flores CM 6 Bryan Acosta LM 8 Edwin Rodríguez  78' CF 7 Alberth Elis CF 9 Anthony Lozano  63' Substitutions: MF 10 Alexander López  46' FW 12 Jorge Benguché  63' DF 5 Éver Alvarado  78' FW 17 Jonathan Toro  78' Manager: Fabián Coito

GK 23 Leonel Moreira RB 4 Keysher Fuller CB 6 Óscar Duarte CB 15 Francisco Calvo LB 8 Bryan Oviedo  49' DM 17 Yeltsin Tejeda CM 10 Bryan Ruiz (c)  58' CM 5 Celso Borges  58' RW 21 Alonso Martínez  76' CF 12 Joel Campbell  72' LW 11 Randall Leal  58' Substitutions: DF 22 Joseph Mora  49' FW 7 Johan Venegas  58' MF 13 Allan Cruz  58' FW 2 Ariel Lassiter  58' MF 20 Gerson 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

6 June 2021 (2021-06-06)

19:00^{[note 4]}

United States	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Mexico
Reyna 27' McKennie 82' Pulisic 114' (pen.)	Report	Corona 2' Lainez 79'

Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

Attendance: 37,648^[23]

Referee: John Pitti (Panama)

United States

Mexico

GK 1 Zack Steffen  69' CB 15 Mark McKenzie  86' CB 6 John Brooks  10' CB 13 Tim Ream  83' RM 22 DeAndre Yedlin  90+4'  105+1' CM 8 Weston McKennie CM 23 Kellyn Acosta  49' LM 2 Sergiño Dest  60' RW 7 Giovanni Reyna  83' CF 9 Josh Sargent  68' LW 10 Christian Pulisic (c)  115' Substitutions: FW 21 Timothy Weah  60' FW 16 Jordan Pefok  68' GK 12 Ethan Horvath  69' MF 17 Sebastian Lletget  83' MF 4 Tyler Adams  83' DF 20 Reggie Cannon  105+1' Manager: Gregg Berhalter

GK 13 Guillermo Ochoa (c) CB 2 Néstor Araujo CB 4 Edson Álvarez  117' CB 15 Héctor Moreno  100' RM 21 Luis Rodríguez CM 16 Héctor Herrera  90+2'  100' CM 8 Carlos Rodríguez  66' LM 23 Jesús Gallardo RW 17 Jesús Corona  66' CF 20 Uriel Antuna  78' LW 22 Hirving Lozano  111' Substitutions: DF 7 Luis Romo  66' FW 9 Henry Martín  66' MF 14 Diego Lainez  78' DF 3 Carlos Salcedo  100' MF 18 Andrés Guardado  120+10'  100' MF 10 Orbelín 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

• Francisco Calvo
• Joel Campbell
• Alberth Elis
• Edwin Rodríguez
• Jesús Corona
• Diego Lainez
• Weston McKennie
• Christian Pulisic
• Giovanni Reyna
• Jordan Pefok

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 the league and the finals 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]