UEFA Champions League na im dey chop most attention when people talk about European soccer, but USMNT fans fit get more reason to follow Europa League this season. While some Americans like Johnny Cardoso, Sergiño Dest and Mathis Albert dey take part for Europe’s number one club competition in 2026-27, as many as 13 U.S. players dey involved for the Thursday night competition wey no too shine like Champions League.
USMNT fans go want keep close eye on two teams wey get two Americans for their roster: AC Milan get Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, while Celtic get Austin Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers. There will also be several matchups wey USMNT players go face each other, starting with Crystal Palace trip to Lyon on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Milan go visit Bournemouth and Juventus go host Rennes on Oct. 22, while Leverkusen face Marseille on Nov. 5. Other games wey feature Americans include Leverkusen against Lyon and Celtic against Marseille.
Two U.S. nationals fit take field for Thursday meeting between Lyon and Palace for France, wey kick off 12:45 p.m. ET. Chris Richards, 26, and Zavier Gozo, 19, na USMNT teammates, and dem be neighbors for Crystal Palace. Chris Richards daughter, Luna, dey obsessed with Gozo.
Tanner Tessmann dey Lyon squad for the game, although he go start the clash from bench. The former FC Dallas midfielder start all four games for Lyon ill-fated Champions League qualifying campaign and the Europa League opener against Anderlecht on Sept. 16, but he never enter coach Paulo Fonseca starting lineup since then. The 25-year-old no feature for USMNT for its fall friendlies but he dey hope to work him way back into Mauricio Pochettino plans.
For the other side, Chris Richards go start at heart of Crystal Palace defense. The Alabama native na one of first names on Pierre Sage team sheet and he don start all seven of Eagles games across Premier League and Europa League.
If you hope say you go see Richards teenage teammate Zavier Gozo, you go disappointed. The winger, wey make him USMNT debut for fall friendlies, no register for Europa League after he join the London club for summer.
Another prominent American connection between the two clubs na businessman John Textor, wey previously own both. Because both clubs belong to Eagle Football Holdings, Crystal Palace demote from last season Europa League, wey Lyon also compete, to Conference League, and the Premier League club go on to win am.
Manager Paulo Fonseca dey in charge of Lyon with formation 4-1-2-1-2, while Pierre Sage dey lead Crystal Palace with formation 3-4-2-1. Lineups don dey announced and players dey warm up for UEFA Europa League.
