As the United States continue to make final preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City will see the US Men’s National team square off with Uruguay on Sunday. The match features two of the Top 15 teams in the FIFA world rankings, both of whom are coming into the match on the heels of 3-0 victories midweek.
Uruguay have put together a perfect record in 2022, winning all five of their matches thus far. To maintain that run, they will have to prevent the USMNT from winning their ninth consecutive match on American soil. Here are our United States vs Uruguay picks and predictions for Sunday, June 5.
USA vs Uruguay match odds
| USA | Uruguay | |
|---|---|---|
| +180 | Moneyline | +150 |
| +200 | Draw | +200 |
| Over 2.5 (+120) | Total | Under 2.5 (-154) |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on June 4, 2022.
USA vs Uruguay betting tips
Click on each pick for complete analysis
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USA vs Uruguay game info
• Location: Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS
• Date: Sunday, June 5, 2022
• Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
USA vs Uruguay betting preview
Weather
Temperatures in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon should not be of concern for the players or fans, with upper-70s forecasted for kickoff. There is a strong chance of rain earlier in the afternoon, but it should be cleared up by the time the referee blows the opening whistle.
Injuries
USA: Weston McKennie M (Questionable).
Uruguay: Ronald Araujo D (Questionable).
USA vs Uruguay predictions
Side analysis
Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Morocco saw the United States run their unbeaten streak to 24 matches on American soil. Christian Pulisic’s terrific first touch helped set up a Brenden Aaronson goal after 26 minutes, followed six minutes later by a long-range strike from Timothy Weah that doubled the lead. Pulisic was taken down on 64 minutes, and the captain handed the ball to debutant Haji Wright, who scored to mark his first cap with the national team.
While the scoreline indicates the United States dominated the match, there were some reasons for concern. Morocco outshot the Yanks 22-11, although the Americans put 10 of their shots on goal while allowing just eight for the visitors. Matt Turner was forced into multiple key saves to keep a zero on the other half of the scoreboard. Gregg Berhalter subbed off defenders Walker Zimmerman and Antonee Robinson at halftime, with Pulisic and Tyler Adams taking their leave 20 minutes later. All four will be in the mix to start on Sunday.
Uruguay are riding a five-match unbeaten streak, during which they have conceded just one goal while scoring 11. Their 3-0 win over Mexico on Thursday night was their third consecutive win against a side ranked in the Top 25 of the FIFA world rankings. Matias Vecino put Uruguay ahead ten minutes before halftime, while Edinson Cavani doubled their lead mere moments after the second-half kickoff. He would secure a brace minutes later on a shot from outside the box.
Uruguay have terrific talent strewn throughout the side. Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde is the playmaker in the middle, and the defense has three terrific center backs in Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, and Sebastian Coates. Depending on if they run a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, El Matador will either be a lone striker or will partner with rising young star forward Darwin Nunez. The USMNT will also have to contend with Facundo Pellistri down their left-hand side, as his outstanding pace set up Cavani’s first goal on Thursday night.
The USMNT is in high spirits following their win, but this will be a much tougher test than what Morocco presented. Uruguay is ranked ninth in the FIFA world rankings, they have superior talent than Morocco at all levels of the pitch, and Cavani is a lethal finisher capable of burying a half-chance. Defensively, they will also present a tougher challenge for the Yanks, having allowed a total of one big chance in their wins over Mexico, Chile, and Peru.
Uruguay presents a legitimate test for the Americans ahead of this winter’s World Cup, and it’s a test I’m not certain they're ready to pass. The defense definitely looked to be missing Miles Robinson at times on Wednesday night, and the Uruguayan attack isn't one to be trying to figure things out against. I believe Uruguay will come away from this match with a result, but there is no value in a double-chance play. Instead, take Uruguay to win with a draw refunding your money.
Prediction: Uruguay draw no bet (-125 at FanDuel)
Over/Under analysis
As previously mentioned, Uruguay are not allowing goals at the moment. They might be without Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who has been filling in at right back impressively, but their defense is still quite stout. Coates presents a towering presence with his 6’5” frame, and Gimenez is showing why he’s a cornerstone of Atletico Madrid’s staunch defense.
Mexico played with three at the back and left themselves exposed on the counter-attack early and often against Uruguay, something I don’t see the Americans doing. This should be a cagier affair as Berhalter looks to see how his side compete against a tough opponent whose odds to win the World Cup are half what the United States are getting. Uruguay tends to play in lower-scoring affairs, and that’s what I believe we will see here.
Prediction: Under 2.5 (-154 at FanDuel)
Best bet
While Luis Suarez is out for this group of matches, Cavani and Nunez still form a formidable duo in attack. Whether they run a 4-4-2 or go with a lone striker at the head of a 4-2-3-1, everything Uruguay does in attack is designed to get the ball to the feet of one of their dangerous strikers in a position to provide a clinical finish. Four of their five matches since the calendar flipped to 2022 have seen either Cavani or Suarez find the back of the net.
Turner can’t be expected to bail out the defense time and again as he did against Morocco. While the United States were able to keep the African side off the scoresheet on Wednesday night, they had chances that a player of El Matador’s caliber would have likely finished off. That’s the reason why Cavani getting nearly double the money to find the back of the net is a bet I simply can’t pass up.
Pick: Edinson Cavani anytime goalscorer (+190 at FanDuel)
