The United States men’s national team played a surprisingly-engaging off-window friendly against Venezuela on Saturday, with the MLS-heavy USMNT beating a domestic-heavy Vinotinto 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Jack McGlynn and Matko Miljevic both had a goal and an assist, the latter missing a penalty drawn by fellow goal scorer Patrick Agyemang as the USMNT’s mostly-uncapped side impressed in Florida.
MORE — WATCH USMNT v Venezuela en Espanol | Upcoming USMNT schedule
The only other drawback besides Miljevic’s saved spot kick was Jorge Yriarte’s goal off the bench for Venezuela, as a pair of USMNT defenders were slow to react to his threat off a back post corner kick.
The U.S. put nine of their 13 shots on target and completed 547 passes compared to the visitors’ 240.
Mauricio Pochettino saw 16 players and did not use Tim Ream nor Walker Zimmerman. The Yanks will meet Costa Rica in Orlando next week to finish the January camp.
Three things we learned from USMNT 3-1 Venezuela
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There’s flair in the U.S. depth: Matko Miljevic has a checkered club history but his cool drive to start a play and even better finish was one of three very easy-on-the-eyes goals from Mauricio Pochettino’s men. Jack McGlynn’s rocket goal and Patrick Agyemang’s beast of a goal were different stuff, too, as the Yanks showcased what their so-called “B team” (or even C team) can do when given space.
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Agyemang makes his case: Folarin Balogun is the first team’s center forward unless Ricardo Pepi can take his place but… Agyemang, man — The 6-foot-4 Charlotte FC forward somehow has a Haji Wright-like look to him and is one of the most likely players to get a look with the “first team.”
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McGlynn jams his left peg in the midfield race: He led the game in touches and created chances, but it’s the left-footed hammer goal that may live longer in Pochettino’s mind. Still 21 until July, the New York City-born midfielder showed the sort of special stuff required to have a chance to play in a midfield that already boasts Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, and Giovanni Reyna. It’s good to have ingredients, and Pochettino’s a master chef. Yes, this was not against a group world-beaters, but it also did plenty of good for the imagination.
USMNT vs Venezuela player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
McGlynn was undoubtedly the Man of the Match, so we’re not surprised to see his figures popping off the page from our pals at Fotmob.com. He hit on 86-of-89 passes and posted a game-high 104 touches, sending a remarkable 20 passes into the final third.
Shaq Moore showcased his range of passing with a number of long balls, but it was either he or Miles Robinson who gave too much room to Yriarte on the Venezuela goal.
Montreal defender George Campbell led the game in defensive actions, recoveries, and clearances in his 88 minutes, trailing only Robinson and McGlynn in touches.
How to watch USMNT vs Venezuela live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Saturday (January 18)
Venue: Chase Stadium — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
TV Channel: Universo, Telemundo
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock en Espanol
USMNT vs Venezuela live score: 3-1
Jack McGlynn 37′, Patrick Agyemang 39′, Matko Miljevic 64′, Jorge Yriarte 68′
USMNT vs Venezuela live updates — By Nick Mendola
USMNT sub
Indiana Vassilev, the ex-Villa man, takes the place of Gutierrez in the 73rd minute.
Jorge Yriarte goal — USMNT 3-1 Venezuela (68th minute)
It’s off a corner, and the halftime sub is unmarked as neither Shaq Moore nor Miles Robinson deal with the service.
USMNT subs
Emeka Eneli, Brian White, DeJuan Jones, and Diego Luna enter for Arfsten, Miljevic, Agyemang, and Cremaschi.
Matko Miljevic goal — USMNT 3-0 Venezuela (64th minute)
He’s been all over the pitch, and now he’s got a beautiful goal.
The man who was once sent away from the CF Montreal for playing in a Quebecois men’s league game fires home a goal scorer’s goal after leading a rush up the pitch.
Two blocks
Miles Robinson makes a strong lunging low challenge to deprive Venezuela a shot from the top of the 18, and the rebound is knocked out for a corner by Moore.
Schulte catches the corner kick and the Yanks lead 2-0 in the 49th minute.
Venezuela subs
Jorge Yriarte and Edson Tortolero enter for Jovanny Bolivar and Daniel Pereira at the break as Venezuela boss Fernando Batista shakes things up in Florida.
Halftime — USMNT 2-0 Venezuela
La Vinotinto’s plan to counter attack has yield five shot attempts but barely troubled USMNT keeper Patrick Schulte until a stoppage-time miss wide of the far post from Mendoza.
The Yanks have been filling up the Venezuela box with chances, putting six-of-eight shots on target on 64% possession.
It’s 2-nil and that’s with a saved penalty. The MLS-heavy contingent was expected to flex a bit against a Venezuela side based heavily in South America with a sprinkling of MLS and overseas players, and they are doing just that.
Patrick Agyemang goal (video)! USMNT 2-0 Venezuela (39th minute)
Another first international goal, and it’s well-earned by the Charlotte FC man.
The big Rhode Island Ram uses his body to keep a defender at bay while striding to hit a ball through the legs of Farinez.
Jack McGlynn wonder goal (video)! USMNT 1-0 Venezuela (37th minute)
It’s hit with a sledgehammer.
The Philadelphia Union’s top dog scores his first international goal with a left-footed piledriver from yards outside the 18 after a nice layoff from Cremaschi on the right.
USMNT yellow card — 19th minute
Inter Miami youngster Benjamin Cremaschi gets beaten and tugs a jersey in midfield. He’s cautioned early.
Venezuela chance
Patrick Schulte is all over Venezuela’s first chance, a distance effort from Gleiker Mendoza.
The Deportivo Tachira midfielder quickly refinds the ball and leads another rush.
This time he’s closed down by USMNT right back Shaq Moore.
USMNT chance!
Brian Gutierrez leads the rush and lays it wide for Max Arfsten, who delays his swung cross but needed another half-second for the gigantic Agyemang to reach it.
USMNT penalty, saved!
Patrick Agyemang is stepped on in the box and it’s a second-minute penalty for the USMNT.
Miljevic seemed to withhold the penalty from McGlynn, and…. oof!
Miljevic’s tepid penalty is saved by Wuilker Farinez, a poor low effort.
USMNT lineup
Schulte, Arfsten, M. Robinson, Campbell, Moore, McGlynn, Cremaschi, Gutierrez, Miljevic, Clark, Agyemang.
Subs: Freese, Steffen, Zimmerman, D. Jones, White, Luna, Ream, Eneli, Vassilev
Venezuela lineup
Farinez, Graterol, Mantia, Vivas, Rosales, Bolivar, Ortega, Pereira, Juanpi, Mendoza, Hurtado.
USMNT vs Venezuela preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Poch has been working with a mostly MLS-based squad and the January camp ends with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica, with the latter being played in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, January 22.
Due to this game being outside of a FIFA window for international games, USMNT players from most leagues across the world haven’t been released by their clubs to play. That is the same for Venezuela, with most of their stars for South America’s surprise package in 2026 World Cup qualifying unavailable for this one.
Still, it will be intriguing to see how Pochettino uses the U.S. stars who play in MLS and which of them can challenge the European-based contingent for regular minutes over the next 18 months as the build-up to the 2026 World Cup on home soil continues.
USMNT roster for friendly vs Venezuela — Who are key players to look out for?
This is a big opportunity for goalkeeper Zack Steffen to show what he’s all about, while Tim Ream, Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman are USMNT veterans and it will be really helpful for this mostly young squad to be around that trio.
There are high hopes for many of the young USMNT midfielders, with Benjamin Cremaschi, Diego Luna, and Jack McGlynn all highly-rated and eager to make their mark.
In attack there is just one cap between the six forwards and USMNT fans are excited to see whether Caden Clark, Patrick Agyemang, or Matko Miljevic — amongst others — have impressed Pochettino enough to earn a start.
GOALKEEPERS (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 0/0), George Campbell (CF Montréal; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew; 8/0), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas; 19/1), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 66/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 41/3)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; 1/0), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 1/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 1/0)
FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 0/0), Caden Clark (CF Montréal; 0/0), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Matko Miljevic (Huracán/ARG; 0/0), Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis CITY SC; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; 1/0)
Venezuela tough to break down
La Vinotinto have drawn six of their 12 games in 2026 World Cup qualifying in South America and have been so tough to break down, with just 15 goals conceded in 12 games.
In recent months they’ve drawn at home against both Brazil and Argentina with veteran forward Salomon Rondon still going strong, but he won’t be in this squad alongside most of Venezuelan’s stars. They have a few experienced players in ex-Malaga standout Roberto Rosales and Atlanta United veteran Ronald Hernandez but like the USMNT have called-up mostly young, domestic-based players.
This will be a very good test for this young USMNT side.
