Following the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-0 loss to Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL), it’s understandable for USMNT supporters to feel concerned about the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under manager Mauricio Pochettino, who took the helm last September, the team has displayed moments of impressive play, particularly during the CNL quarterfinals against Jamaica. However, the semifinal defeat revealed some persistent issues. One major concern is the team’s lack of aggression at the start of matches, especially when the opponent allows them to control possession. This hesitance hampers their ability to penetrate well-organized defenses.
Panama has proven to be a strong competitor in Concacaf. If the U.S. has difficulty defeating the Canaleros, who have beaten them in three straight tournament matches, how can they hope to progress from their group in the World Cup? That said, there is still hope for the Americans. With only 447 days until the World Cup kicks off, Pochettino faces a tight timeline and limited chances to make necessary adjustments. The upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, which will be the USMNT’s sole competitive matches before the World Cup, has gained significant importance.
This tournament will provide Pochettino with an extended training camp to better understand his players. Additionally, the U.S. will host friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland prior to the Gold Cup to simulate the World Cup experience. The goal is for the players to gain more experience in knockout scenarios, although this objective is complicated by the Club World Cup. Key players like Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah from Juventus, along with Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna, may be unavailable for the Gold Cup due to their clubs’ commitments.
Following that, with no CNL matches planned for 2026, there are only four remaining international windows: September, October, and November of 2025, along with March 2026, in addition to some pre-World Cup friendlies. This leaves a limited timeframe to make necessary improvements. The U.S. team has a lot to work on, particularly in their offensive play. To illustrate the lack of effectiveness in the American attack against Panama: The U.S. recorded 811 touches, marking the 11th instance since September 2017 where they exceeded 800 touches in a match. However, their expected goals (xG) stood at just 0.68, making it the first time during that period that they had over 800 touches yet an xG below 1.00. This indicates that while the U.S. maintained possession, they struggled to generate significant scoring opportunities.
The return of several injured players would significantly benefit the U.S. team. They have sorely missed right-back Sergiño Dest, who has recently come back to PSV Eindhoven after recovering from an ACL injury sustained 11 months ago. Dest is a dynamic attacking player capable of surprising opponents, whether through dribbling or shooting.
Their left-back Antonee Robinson’s aggressive runs down the wing were also lacking against Panama. The absence of these two players greatly impacts the U.S. style of play. Joe Scally is a solid defensive option, but he does not contribute much to the attack. Consequently, in Dest’s absence, Scally tends to stay back, allowing the opposite full-back to advance. Furthermore, Yunus Musah appears to be out of place as a wing-back due to his limitations in distribution.
The frontline has faced significant injury challenges, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi sidelined for extended periods. Their eventual return would enhance the competition for attacking positions, which have been lacking in dynamism.
These absences raise concerns about the depth of the USMNT’s player pool. In scenarios like Thursday’s defeat to Panama, the U.S. could benefit from Pochettino adjusting the lineup to be more offensive. With Tyler Adams back in the squad, Tanner Tessmann’s role in midfield appeared unnecessary, potentially allowing for a more creative player like Reyna or Diego Luna to take his place.
However, instilling the right mindset in the team may pose the greatest challenge for Pochettino. He noted a “lack of aggression” in the first half, describing it as “painful” to witness. This was evident in the Americans’ performance in Panama’s penalty area, where they recorded 32 touches—ranking 12th in the last 35 matches—yet only nine of those occurred in the first half. The situation improved when Tim Weah began to take up wider positions in the second half. Pochettino must foster a competitive atmosphere for playing time, but the question remains: are the players ready to step up and challenge the current starters? Addressing the issue of aggression will be a tough task, as some players are not performing to the level their club reputations suggest they should. Pochettino has sought to bolster the squad, primarily by bringing in players from MLS, and has emphasized that they will have opportunities to shine. Until he gives them more prominent roles, his promises might seem empty. In the end, Pochettino’s capabilities as a manager have their boundaries; the players themselves need to step up, take charge of their development, and display the required intensity.
“You gain more insight from setbacks than from victories, as glossing over the issues—like falling behind and lacking aggression—doesn’t help anyone,” stated U.S. defender Tim Ream. “Every game, every training session, and every day on the field presents opportunities for learning. We must focus on understanding what the coach requires from us, particularly regarding duels, aggression, and intensity.”
Although the USMNT will not have the chance to defend their CNL title after winning it for the past three years, the upcoming third-place match against a highly motivated Canada offers a valuable opportunity to apply those lessons. With key players like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and Cyle Larin in the lineup, Canada is expected to adopt a more aggressive attacking style compared to Panama.
Pochettino should refrain from making major changes to the starting lineup, as building team chemistry is crucial. Players must earn their positions, but there are certainly chances for some to shine. Zack Steffen seems to be the preferred choice for goalkeeper, especially after Matt Turner’s poor positioning on Cecilio Waterman’s crucial goal, where he was too close to the near post. A straightforward change, swapping Reyna or Luna for Tessmann, appears to be a sensible move. Patrick Agyemang showed promise during his 22 minutes against Panama. At the very least, USMNT fans will be looking for improvement. After the disappointing game against Panama, expectations are lower. However, with less than 15 months until the World Cup, the U.S. must demonstrate that it is making strides.
