The USMNT has a problem. It is getting ready for the 2026 World Cup without the benefit of a qualifying process that has seen the team forge itself in the fire, humidity, and soaring batteries of Concacaf. Over the past 35ish years of the modern men’s national team project this has been a key test for the team. At the very least it subjects the players to the adversity of an opponent that wants to not only win for soccer stature but also assert some degree of international political hegemonic revenge on a nation that is only now starting to pay attention to the sport. That creates the kind of competitive atmosphere that is difficult to replicate in any situation and uniquely prepares the team for World Cup matches.
At the same time, does it? In those 35 years the USMNT has qualified for eight World Cups and won a whopping six games.
Regardless of the validity of the qualification argument, the USMNT is entering new territory when it comes to qualification for this generation of players. The 2025 Concacaf Nations League is going to be one of the few opportunities for truly competitive matches that the team will have. It will be facing a familiar foe in Panama, a team that will be eager to show that its Copa America win last year was not strictly resulting from, well…
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New manager Mauricio Pochettino is less concerned with vibes and sneakers and much more so on bringing a different mindset to the USMNT. Last year when he was hired he talked about wanting the men to approach the game like the USWNT saying, “We need to see the women’s team as an example. […] The right kind of arrogance-confidence without disrespect-is what our players need to perform at the highest level.”
That didn’t work out great against Japan, but putting that aside his statement will be tested against Panama in the Concacaf Nations League.
Poch led the team to a win against Panama in a friendly that saw the Stars and Stripes score two very nice goals that more resembled football than soccer. It was a friendly though and this time there is more on the line. That goes for more than the result on the pitch though. This game also will see the core of what is emerging as a very talented group that might border on golden generation play together for the first time under the new manager. It will be a chance for the team to show it can perform together at a high level against a reasonably difficult and determined opponent.
There’s not a lot of mystery about what the USA will try to do in the match. As the home team in a high stakes game that is favored to win, the red, white, and blue should take the game to the visitors with attack on their minds while avoiding mistakes and conceding on counters or set pieces.
For the most part, the USA starting XI picks itself. The one question mark in the player pool as it stands is who should be starting at striker for the national team. Josh Sargent will in all likelihood get the start and with it a chance to show he can claim the first pick at no. 9 going forward. It’s a huge opportunity for the forward who is putting together a fine, fine indeed, season in the Championship. Other American forwards are waiting in the wings with similarly fine seasons to their names and will be more than willing to step up should Sargent not be up to the task. This is all the more important as Christian Pulisic has been overly relied upon to score goals and others need to step up for the team to have a well rounded attack.
In the Panama scouting report, it was noted that the team likes to play in a 3-4-3. However, that does give the team the flexibility to pretty easily drop into a 5-4-1. While the team is under a manager that wants the ball and use positional play, it’s still Panama and the talent gap between the teams is notable. If Panama decides to go with its new “Spanish” style the USA could exploit that talent gap. Alternatively, Los Canaleros may very well decide not to risk it and revert back to making the Americans dig through what they hope will be an impenetrable jungle to reach victory on the Pacific coast.
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