# 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 Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, 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.
The United States defeated Mexico 3–2 after extra time in the final to become the first champions of the CONCACAF Nations League.

## 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), 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.
In the Finals, if the scores were level at the end of normal time:
* 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. However, the planned venues were put into doubt following the tournament's suspension.
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.
| City | Stadium | Denverclass=notpageimage| Location of the host city of the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. |
| Denver, Colorado | Empower Field at Mile High | Denverclass=notpageimage| Location of the host city of the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. |
| Denverclass=notpageimage| Location of the host city of the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. | |

## Qualified teams

The four group winners of League A qualified for the Nations League Finals.
| Group | Winners | Date of qualification | CONCACAF Rankings June 2021 | 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 |

## 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. 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.

## Match officials

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

## Schedule

The tournament was originally to be held in Texas from June 4 to 7, 2020. However, the tournament was postponed on 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. On July 27, 2020, CONCACAF announced that the Finals would be held in March 2021, though on September 22, 2020 CONCACAF announced that the tournament was again rescheduled until June 2021.
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.
On May 9, 2021, CONCACAF confirmed the fixture dates and times.

## 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).
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| June 3 – Denver, CO | June 3 – Denver, CO |
| Honduras | 0 |
| Honduras | 0 | June 6 – Denver, CO | June 6 – Denver, CO |
| United States | 1 | June 6 – Denver, CO | June 6 – Denver, CO |
| United States | 1 | United States (a.e.t.) | 3 |
| June 3 – Denver, CO | June 3 – Denver, CO | | United States (a.e.t.) | 3 |
| June 3 – Denver, CO | June 3 – Denver, CO | Mexico | 2 |
| Mexico (p) | 0 (5) | Mexico | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 0 (4) | | |
| Costa Rica | 0 (4) | Third place play-off | Third place play-off |
| | | June 6 – Denver, CO | June 6 – Denver, CO |
| | | Honduras (p) | 2 (5) |
| | | Costa Rica | 2 (4) |
All times are local, MDT (UTC−6).

## Semi-finals
### Honduras vs United States

| 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)
* Assistant referees:
* 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 | 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)
* Assistant referees:
* 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 | 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)
* Assistant referees:
* 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

| 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)
* Assistant referees:
* 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.
Weston McKennie was named MVP of the tournament, having scored a total of four goals in the league and the finals play.

### 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 |