USA vs Wales: World Cup 2022, Group Stage Match Preview and Dream11 Predictions

USA vs Wales is upcoming on Monday evening in the second match of a competitive Group B.

Match Details:

• Location: Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
• Stadium: Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
• Date: Monday 21 November
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM
• Watch- Sports 18/HD, Jio Cinema App

USA vs Wales: Match Preview:

It's been a long 64 years, but Wales are back at the Fifa World Cup. Robert Page's side qualified for Qatar 2022 via the play-offs and they will be looking to emulate the "class of 58", who reached the quarter-finals. 

Wales's opening World Cup game against the United States on Monday evening could decide one of group B's two qualifiers, said Kyle Bonn on SportingNews.com. It's "rare" that such a "vital" match is played this early in the tournament, but with Wales and the US expected to "duke it out" behind group favourites England, "there's a tense feel about this contest".

The Dragons may have "defied expectations" to reach the World Cup, said Gavin Beech on WalesOnline. But that doesn't mean "they can't make an impact" in Qatar. Should Page's men pick up three points against the US, then they "might only need one more point" to earn qualification for the knockout stages.

The US, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2014, have the slight upper hand from their previous meetings with Wales. Both friendlies, the teams drew 0-0 in November 2020, but the US won 1-0 in May 2003. Wales and the US are in group B with England and Iran.  

Team News:

USA:

Luca de la Torre has been sidelined since the end of October with a hamstring injury. Celta Vigo announced at the time that he would be unavailable for at least three weeks. That was three weeks ago.

Matt Turner returned to warm Arsenal's bench this month after missing three matches with a groin problem and is expected to stand between the sticks for the US.

Weston McKennie is another regular starter but damaged his thigh while playing for Juventus in October, leaving his involvement this Monday shrouded in uncertainty.

Wales:

Joe Allen hasn't featured for Swansea City since September while nursing a hamstring injury but is "confident and comfortable that it won't be too much of a problem".

When announcing Allen's place in the squad, Wales manager Rob Page admitted: "It's not ideal if I'm honest, but we're giving him every opportunity to get him fit to get into the starting XI for the first game."

USA vs Wales: Head to Head:

The two sides have clashed on two occasions in the past. The USA have one win to their name, while one game ended in a draw.

The USA have a poor recent record against European opposition, failing to win any of their last nine meetings, losing five and drawing four.

Predicted Line-ups:

United States Starting 11 (4-3-3): Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, Robinson; Musah, Adams, Acosta; Aaronson, Ferreira, Pulisic.

Bench: Horvath, Johnson, Ream, Moore, Carter-Vickers, Yedlin, Scally, Roldan, Reyna, Morris, Wright, Weah, Sargent.

Wales Starting 11 (3-4-3): Hennessey; Ampadu, Rodon, B Davies; C Roberts, Ramsey, Allen, N Williams; Bale, Johnson, D James.

Bench: Ward, A Davies, Gunter, Mepham, Lockyer, Cabango, Colwill, Wilson, Morrell, Williams, Thomas, Levitt, Smith, Moore, Harris.

USA vs WAL: Dream11 Predictions: