Expectations for the arrival of a renowned head coach such as Mauricio Pochettino have not been met, and even beyond an improvement, the US national team seems to have suffered a setback.
At least that’s what the recent results suggest, beyond the fact that it was a friendly match, the quality of the opponents, and the important absences, Pochettino has not been able to implement a system, an idea of play and even his defense, which in recent times had been one of the most disciplined in the area, has now been exposed with a tough 4-0 defeat. It took less than 40 minutes for the Swiss national team to complete.
Crisis in the United States national team
The USMNT is going through a delicate moment just one year before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which will also be held on home soil, so fans are desperate to see improvement in their national team.
The friendly matches have highlighted the vulnerability in defence and for many fans and pundits this match has been interpreted as a wake-up call, rather than just a preparatory test.
This thrashing adds to the bad run that the USMNT is accumulating as it is the fourth consecutive defeat for the team, something that had not happened since 2007. In addition, it is the first time that the team has conceded four goals in less than 40 minutes playing at home, an unprecedented fact.
Criticism on social media was not long in coming, reflecting growing frustration among USMNT fans. Comments questioning the direction of the team and the management of the World Cup process were frequent after the match, and some fans have even begun to call for Pochettino’s departure, pointing to the small window of opportunity ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
When does the 2025 Gold Cup start?
The Gold Cup will kick off on Saturday, June 14 with the Mexican National Team’s match against the Dominican Republic, while the USMNT will face Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, June 15.
United States national team Gold Cup schedule
- USA vs Trinidad and Tobago – June 15
- Saudi Arabia vs USA – June 19
- USA vs Haiti – June 22
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