AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Men’s National Team faces Ecuador tonight at Q2 Stadium with a starting XI featuring several notable storylines.
Captain Aaron Long will lead the team for the 24th time, tying Kasey keller for eighth all-time in USMNT captaincies. Aidan Morris earns his first cap in nearly a year, having last appeared against Mexico on October 15, 2024. Weston McKennie and Tanner Tessmann, both products of FC Dallas, return to National Team action following their last appearance in Concacaf Nations League play against Canada on March 23. Malik Tillman is also back in the lineup after featuring in the Gold Cup Final against Mexico on July 6.
Chris Richards, another FC Dallas academy graduate, scored his second international goal in the team’s previous visit to Q2 Stadium, netting the 63rd-minute winner against Saudi Arabia on June 19. Matt Freese, earning his 10th cap, becomes the 16th goalkeeper in USMNT history to reach double-digit appearances, currently holding a 5W-3L-1D record with three shutouts in his first nine games.
Max Arfsten ties Diego Luna for the team appearance lead in 2025 with 13, having appeared in all but one match this year and is tied with Luna for the team lead in assists with four. Folarin Balogun provided an assist in his last appearance at Q2 Stadium, setting up Gio Reyna in the 3-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on November 16, 2023. Miles Robinson makes his first start sence the 2-1 loss to Turkey on June 7 in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Weston McKennie and Aaron Long both started the USA’s last match against Ecuador, a 1-0 win on March 21, 2019, in Orlando, with Long assisting on Gyasi Zardes’ winning goal. tonight’s match is almost a year to the day of Mauricio Pochettino’s first match in charge of the USMNT, a 2-0 win against Panama on October 12, 2024, also at Q2 Stadium.
Antonee Robinson and Alex Zendejas are unavailable for selection.
The USMNT holds an even 5W-5L-5D record in 15 all-time matches against Ecuador, dating back to November 30, 1984. The USA has won the last three encounters: 1-0 on May 25, 2016, in Frisco, Texas; 2-1 in the Copa America Centenario quarterfinal on June 16, 2016, in Seattle; and 1-0 on March 21, 2019, in Orlando.
