Americans Abroad in UCL, UELGOAL

Ricardo Pepi's PSV fighting for UCL survival, Christian Pulisic's AC Milan chasing top-8: What's at stake for Americans Abroad in Champions League matchday

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League league phase wraps up Wednesday, with all 36 teams competing at once to close the opening portion of this year's new format in the tournament. Eighteen matches will kick off at 3 p.m. ET, as the top 24 teams moving onto the next round are finally determined after five months of action.

From a U.S. men's national team perspective, six teams featuring senior members are in play. Five of the six have already guaranteed their spot in the knockout stage, while one side, PSV, are fighting for their UCL lives heading into the Group Stage finale.

Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan have already secured a spot in the knockouts after recording five-straight victories - this after losing their first two matches in the UCL. However, on Wednesday, the Rossoneri are looking to become a member of the top eight, which would automatically book their spot into the Round of 16.

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Weston McKennie and Tim Weah (Juventus), Folarin Balogun (Monaco) and Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) - along with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty - will all be competing, but play knowing their spot in the next round is already reserved. However, they are still fighting for seeding, looking to climb the table to earn a more favorable matchup in the next round.

PSV, featuringi Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Richard Ledezma and Sergino Dest, have an uncertain status, but the odds are in their favor due to some recent outstanding performances in the competition.

Teams who finish outside the top eight will compete in the knockouts, with teams No. 9-16 seeded and 17-24 unseeded. Seeded sides are set to host the second leg of two-legged affairs. The first legs of the knockout playoff round will take place on Feb. 11-12, with the second legs on Feb. 18-19.

GOAL takes a look at how each team sporting a USMNT player has fared, what they need to do Wednesday to book their spot in the next round or move up the table, and more in their Group Stage finale.