This is the first meeting between USA and Wales at the Fifa World Cup. The US team are so far unbeaten in their two previous encounters (W1 D1), both friendlies.
USA have qualified for their 11th Fifa World Cup, and first since the 2014 edition, when they were eventually eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16.
Including 2022, only Mexico (17) have appeared in more Fifa World Cups than USA (11) among Concacaf nations, while USA have reached the knockout stage in three of their last four participations (2002, 2010, 2014).
USA have only kept two clean sheets in their last 27 matches at the Fifa World Cup, conceding 46 goals in the process. In contrast, USA had kept a clean sheet in three of their first six World Cup matches between 1930 and 1950.
In 33 games at the Fifa World Cup, the USA have never registered a goalless draw. That’s more than any other team in the history of the competition.
Wales’ appearance at the 2022 Fifa World Cup marks 64 years since their last participation in 1958, the longest gap between appearances in the history of the tournament.
Wales reached the quarterfinals in their only previous Fifa World Cup appearance, in 1958. They were knocked out by Brazil (0-1), a match which saw Pelé score his first-ever goal in the tournament and become the youngest-ever goalscorer at the Fifa World Cup (17 years, 239 days).
Giovanni Reyna has scored four goals in 14 international appearances for the USA. Reyna turned 20 this month and could become only the 14th player in USA's history to win 15 caps under the age of 21, while one of the previous 13 to do so was his father Claudio Reyna in May 1994, who also started 10 games at the World Cup across the 1998, 2002 and 2006 tournaments.
USA’s Gregg Berhalter will become the first person to represent USA at the Fifa World Cup as both a player and manager, with Berhalter making two appearances at World Cup 2002.
Nine of Wales’ 13 goals at their last two major tournaments (Euro 2016 & 2020) have seen at least one of Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey involved as goalscorer or assist provider.