GOAL US writers debate a duo of disappointing losses for the USMNT, Pochettino's decisions and what it means for Gold Cup
It hasn't been a great week in the USMNT sphere. Mauricio Pochettino's options for the 2025 Gold Cup were always going to be limited, especially with numerous key starters – including Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Weston McKennie – either injured or playing in the Club World Cup.
Friendlies against near-full-strength Turkey and Switzerland aren't easy. And so it proved, the U.S. losing a duo of fixtures by a combined score of 6-1.
But figuring it all out is rather difficult. Pochettino took a depleted squad to face a couple of teams that will hope to contend for quarterfinal spots at the 2026 World Cup. These are good teams. A U.S. XI full of MLS players and a couple of regulars were outmatched.
The inexperience cannot be understated. Over the two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, 20 different players got starts, with 12 of those 24 and younger. Moreover, 11 starters over the two matches had five or fewer caps coming into camp, and six got their first – Sebastian Berhalter, Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan and Damion Downs.
For perspective, this is the first time since 2007 the U.S. has lost four straight, and dropped Pochettino's record since taking over the team last year to a pedestrian 5-5. The USMNT haven't lost four straight home matches since 1988, and Pochettino is the first USMNT coach to lose five of his first 10 since Lothar Osiander from 1986-88.
Forget questions of "fight" and "desire" – this team, in that form, were outclassed. In that light, it's hard to take too much from these games. Are the USMNT in a bad spot? Or are these just two games they were never likely to win given the depleted roster? Or, with the Gold Cup looming – and a World Cup in 12 months – is it the case that every defeat is damning, at least in terms of optics? The reality is probably between.
GOAL US writers break down the impact of losses for the USMNT, and what it means for the Gold Cup, in the latest edition of … The Rondo.
Getty ImagesWhat’s the biggest takeaway from the pre-Gold Cup friendlies?
Tom Hindle: That the backups' backups can't compete with pretty good teams. This is a bit of a rag-tag group of U.S. lads, many of whom probably aren't going to be in the picture in three months – never mind 12. Back-to-back losses just confirmed it.
Jacob Schneider: This is a group competing for the second- and third-string spots on the 2026 roster, for the most part. Taking that into context, if the USMNT can come away and take five players from this group that join them for next summer, that's a win.
Alex Labidou: The national team pool isn't very deep, which begs the question: Is MLS the best place for American talent to develop? There's constant conversation over the money spent on academies, and even European teams marvel at some of the training facilities and stadiums in MLS. Yet, for all of the progress made, in a lot of ways, things still seem the same from a talent perspective as the past decade. The Switzerland result can be placed aside, as they also dominated a stronger Mexican team last week. Yet, outside of potentially Jack McGlynn and Diego Luna, which MLS player really made a case for himself This all points to a larger problem.
Ryan Tolmich: The biggest lesson is that there is a substantial gulf between the USMNT's second tier and third tier. We know how good many of the top stars are, but most aren't on this current squad. We know many in the second string can step in, but there are a lot of absences there, too. Against Switzerland, in particular, several of those players vying for spots in that second group were exposed, showing that they may not yet be ready for this level.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAre there any winners from the fixtures?
TH: It's hard to single anyone out. Luna impressed at times, which would be helpful if he didn't play in the U.S.'s deepest position. Christian Pulisic now looks good in all of this – just in case you were wondering how important he is to this team.
JS: Luna looked lively in both matches, and considering he wasn't surrounded by the USMNT's best, it's exciting to think of what it will look like if he has the likes of Pulisic, Robinson, Ricardo Pepi and Tim to link up with. John Tolkin had a nice spell off the bench against Switzerland, but they'd already sat back – so it's hard to judge. Regardless, he should have done enough to earn a start vs Trinidad and Tobago in Sunday's Gold Cup opener. Then, silly as it sounds, both Chris Richards' and Tyler Adams' stock only improved by being rested against the Swiss.
AL: This feels cynical, but how about Joe Scally and Josh Sargent? The reasons why Sargent was left off are understandable – he hasn't scored for the Americans since 2019. Yet, one could make the case that after Folarin Balogun pulled out with another injury, Sargent should've been given one final look this tournament to see if he can rebuild confidence. Scally isn't a flashy option at right back, but he's defensively solid – one of the better fullbacks in the Bundesliga. For a team that shipped six goals in two friendlies, he certainly could have helped.
RT: A few guys, particularly in the Turkey game, stood out. McGlynn is one, obviously, and it's worth noting his game was more than his goal. Alex Freeman, too, stepped into a big opportunity and didn't look wildly out of place. From the Switzerland game, the winners were the substitutes, the likes of Patrick Agyemang, Luna and Malik Tillman, who came in and gave Pochettino more evidence to trust them going forward.
Getty ImagesHow many of the current camp make the World Cup squad?
TH: Eight? Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Matt Turner, Tim Ream, Luna, Tillman, Richards, Brenden Aaronson. Only one of them, Adams, is a guaranteed starter. Seen some Mark McKenzie love, but not quite sold.
JS: Think it's fair to say that there are 10 – potentially 11 – players here who are already a shoo-in for next summer, but largely as second-stringers. In terms of starters, it's really only Richards, Turner and Adams who are locks – and potentially Tillman. Otherwise, one striker from this pool should get a nod. Expect both McGlynn and Luna to push for a spot along with Luca De La Torre, Tolkin and – potentially – Max Arfsten and Freeman. Again, though, these are as depth pieces.
AL: Let's go with 11: Adams, Cardoso – struggling or not, he's still one of Europe's most coveted midfielders at the moment – Tillman, Turner, Luna, Paxten Aaronson, Ream, McKenzie, Richards, Tolkin and McGlynn. There is one on the bubble here: Freese, depending on the health of goalkeepers Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte.
RT: On a quick count? Probably between eight to 10, but only three or four as starters. There are spots up for grabs, particularly at the back end of the squad. Realistically, though, Richards and Adams are starters, while Turner, Tillman, Luna and all of the center-backs not named Richards could be starters. Outside of that, everyone else is fighting for a role, not a starting job.
Getty ImagesIs Pochettino under pressure?
TH: Is his job in jeopardy? Nah. Even if he loses the next 10 games before the 2026 World Cup, he will still be the manager on June 12, 2026. But this window has proved that he's not equipped to coach the team after the tournament ends. And let's face it, the second a half-decent club job comes around, he's gone. Reeks of Spurs, when they decide to fire Thomas Frank.
JS: No, but he's acting like he is. It's part of the issue. The Nations League was a disaster, yes, but this past international window was a B/C team against European A teams. Stop acting like it matters in the grand scheme of things. Be straight-forward and keep the focus on 2026, not today.
AL: The USMNT could struggle for the rest of the year and it is unlikely there would be a change, simply due to the sheer investment made into the Argentine. U.S. Soccer turned over almost every stone to pay his reported $6 million salary. It would be devastating and likely crippling if the U.S. were to part ways with him prior to the 2026 World Cup. Yet, what might be a bigger worry is if he loses the dressing room. Players can only take so much losing and public criticism before they start pointing fingers. This is a results business and Pochettino needs to get back on track, sooner than later.
RT: Externally? Probably. Internally? No way. He rightly pointed out that, during his time as USMNT coach, he's worked with nearly 60 players. That's spread out over just five caps, which shows just how little continuity and consistency there has been since he arrived. Some of that, of course, isn't his doing, so he can't be universally or solely blamed for the lack of chemistry and, ultimately, the poor results. Is there pressure? For sure. There always has been. Is he under pressure? Given the lengths that U.S. Soccer went to in hiring him, and given the hurdles thrown his way, no.
