This recent international break concluded with disappointment for the United States Men`s National Team. However, optimistically, there are more opportunities for the team to demonstrate that the defeats against Panama and Canada were merely temporary setbacks, not a concerning trend leading up to the World Cup.
Typically, the summer between major international tournaments would offer downtime for key USMNT players, with the Gold Cup usually occurring in off-years between the Concacaf Nations League and the World Cup. However, this summer might be different. With the United States, Canada, and Mexico co-hosting the 2026 World Cup and automatically qualifying, they will not participate in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers resuming in June.
Without these competitive qualifying matches and with Concacaf schedules booked through the World Cup for major nations, maximizing the summer window is essential for the USMNT. It represents their prime chance to compete against strong teams before the lead-up to the World Cup. U.S. Soccer seems aware of this, scheduling summer friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland in early June before the Gold Cup tournament.
Facing strong opponents is a valuable test and suggests a potential strategy to field the first-team squad in the Gold Cup, rather than a roster of primarily domestic-based players. A significant difference between club and international management is the limited uninterrupted training time. For instance, Mauricio Pochettino only had three days of training before the Concacaf Nations League, compared to the weeks of preparation players in the January camp had with him.
With the first friendly on June 7th and the Gold Cup final on July 6th, Pochettino could potentially have a month with the team if the USMNT reaches the final. This period is crucial for World Cup preparations, further enhanced by Saudi Arabia`s invitation to the Gold Cup tournament.
The USMNT could face up to eight teams ranked in the top 60 of FIFA`s men`s rankings and is guaranteed to play at least two teams currently in the top 30. This extended period together, facing high-level competition, offers a critical learning opportunity for the team.
Their defensive performance against Canada appeared disjointed, and the only solution to such issues is consistent time spent playing together. Pochettino would also have the opportunity to coach through mistakes and help the team develop new strategies, such as overcoming a low defensive block. Pochettino acknowledged that improvement takes time after the loss to Canada, and the Gold Cup provides a significant timeframe to work with the squad.
“I`ve observed that teams building towards a World Cup sometimes don`t peak until around the World Cup itself,” Pochettino commented. “I want to reassure the fans: avoid pessimism and negative feelings.”
The most effective way to alleviate concerns is by securing wins and playing well. With this extended summer period, the USMNT has the potential to demonstrate significant progress. Their Nations League performance highlighted the need for development, and a summer free from club commitments could be precisely what they need to overcome their current slump of poor performances.
