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Home team and co-favorite to win the tournament, the US Men's National Team kicks off its 2017 Gold Cup against the only opponent expected to really test it in the group stage.
The USA has not sent its strongest roster to Gold Cup as head coach Bruce Arena seeks to develop his player pool and perhaps unearth one or two new challengers for places in his perceived best XI. With Martinique and Nicaragua to follow in Group B, it is against Panama - a rival in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup - that the likes of Dom Dwyer, Matt Miazga, and Dax McCarty can really press a claim for selection to the World Cup qualifying rosters that Arena will be selecting later in the year.
Panama has left many of its more experienced players out of its squad as well. Los Canaleros need to find replacement for a number of ageing favorites - Jaime Penedo, Felipe Baloy, and Blas Perez, for example - and this tournament is a chance for a number of younger players to make their case.
Among those younger players is 21-year-old Michael Amir Murillo. The New York Red Bulls right back is part-way through his first MLS season. Establishing himself as a starter with RBNY is one of his priorities for this year; breaking into the first-choice lineup for his country is surely his other ambition for 2017. The latter goal can be advanced substantially with a strong showing at Gold Cup.
Per livesoccertv.com, here's where to find the game if watching from the USA: