USMNT vs. Brazil: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2024 Friendly

The United States men's national team faces a near-impossible task to recover from a rough loss at the weekend when they face Brazil on Wednesday.

The USMNT's final preparations for the 2024 Copa America got off to a terrible start on Saturday with a 5-1 defeat to Colombia.

Gregg Berhalter's side needs to put in a much better performance in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday night just to be competitive with one of the best sides in the world.

Brazil is using the game to fine-tune its setup before it chases after another spot in the Copa America final. The Seleção are nine-time winners of the competition and were the runner-up the last time it was held in 2021.

USMNT vs. Brazil Info

Date: Wednesday, June 12

Start Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: TNT, truTV

Live Stream: Max

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Preview and Top Storylines

The Americans must play better than they did on Saturday, but the problem with executing that game plan is Brazil's best level is higher than Colombia's.

The Seleção are the last opponent the USMNT wanted to see after the walloping it suffered at the hands of Colombia.

Berhalter was widely criticized for how his team performed, and the noise could get even louder if the USMNT fails to be competitive in Orlando.

A draw is likely the best-possible result for the Americans given the skill level of both sides.

Brazil can start any combination of Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli and Rodrygo in attack.

Any of those players would be the best attacker on the USMNT roster by miles.

If there is one knock on the Seleção it would be their defense in the last two friendlies. They played to a 3-3 tie with Spain in March and conceded twice to Mexico on Saturday, Brazil needed a stoppage-time winner from Endrick, the 17-year-old wonderkid headed to Real Madrid, to beat El Tri.

The Americans have to put together a cohesive attack in order to poke any holes in the Brazilian back line.

The USMNT looked lost for stretches of the game against Colombia where getting possession was the primary issue rather than not creating a high amount of chances.

Berhalter could call on Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright to both start on Wednesday. Both came off the bench in Saturday's rout.

Timothy Weah scored the only goal in the 58th minute. He provided a brief glimmer of hope before Colombia scored the final three tallies of the contest. An attacking setup with Weah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and one of Pepi or Wright may be the best way for Berhalter to align his team in order to create chances but also respect Brazil's attacking might.

The USMNT defense must also be sharper from the start. Colombia jumped on some errors to go up two goals within 20 minutes on Saturday. Los Cafeteros allowed the Americans to hang around for a bit after that, but they displayed their lethal finishing again late in the second half.

Brazil will be even more ruthless in punishing the American mistakes. One has to think the Seleção will be motivated to shake off the pair of second-half concessions they allowed to Mexico.

The USMNT needs to be perfect for 90 minutes, no matter which way you break down the match, to even compete with Brazil.

If the Americans stay within a goal, tie or miraculously win, they will be in a good spot heading into the Copa America.

However, they must avoid another embarrassing loss, which will put even more pressure on Berhalter to make a deep run on home soil in the Copa.

Prediction: Brazil 3, USMNT 1