USA vs Venezuela Prediction, Pick, Odds for January 18

• USA vs. Venezuela moneyline odds: USA -134, Draw +260, Venezuela +350
• USA vs. Venezuela over/under: 2.5 goals (Over -106, Under -118)
• USA vs. Venezuela pick: Over 2.5 goals + Both Teams to Score

I’m backing Over 2.5 goals + Both Teams to Score in the USA vs. Venezuela match.

USA Soccer Prediction

The United States officially kicks off 2025 with an interesting friendly match against Venezuela. The team, coached by Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino (3-1-1), aims to plan the path toward the 2026 World Cup.

For this friendly match, Pochettino only called up MLS players. Therefore, talents like Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, among others, will not be available.

We know that Pochettino’s teams are typically well-organized and offensive-minded, so we expect him to keep that approach even without key pieces.

Some players had a great 2024 and are on Pochettino’s radar, with a chance to earn a place in the squad: midfielder Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), nominated for Best Young Player, and Benjamin Cremaschi, one of Inter Miami’s promising talents.

This match will be a true test, and anything can happen. It won’t be easy for Pochettino, who has only been in charge for a few months and will be working solely with domestic league players for the first time.

Venezuela Soccer Prediction

Venezuela begins its sporting year with a clear objective: improving its position in the South American World Cup Qualifiers standings. The team is currently outside the qualification zone for the next World Cup.

The squad list Argentine coach Fernando Batista announced also lacks several key names. Players like Yeferson Soteldo, Salomón Rondón and Eduard Bello were left out. Like Pochettino, Batista has opted to call up many players who primarily feature in the local league.

Some of the most notable players on the list are veteran goalkeeper Wuilker Faríñez and defender Ronald Hernández from Atlanta United.

Forward Jan Hurtado, a 24-year-old who rose to prominence in Argentine football in 2019, returns to the national team after a four-year absence. He is currently playing, with limited success, in Brazil’s Second Division.

Venezuela’s last five official matches ended with negative results: two losses and three draws.

USA vs. Venezuela Prediction

The friendly between the USA and Venezuela is shaping up to be a closely contested match. Both teams will be without key players, with Venezuela hoping to turn around its recent poor form, while the USA will rely on MLS-based talents like Luna and Cremaschi.

Expect both teams to push forward, leading to an open game with scoring opportunities on both sides.

USA vs Venezuela Pick: Over 2.5 goals + Both Teams to Score