INGLEWOOD, California – Optimism surrounded the US Men`s National Team as they convened in Los Angeles before the Concacaf Nations League semifinal, a tournament they had previously won. Coach Mauricio Pochettino had recently suggested that the U.S. could become the world`s best team within a decade, echoing his ambitious outlook since taking the job last fall.
However, as the week concluded, Pochettino shifted to urging USMNT fans to remain positive despite two consecutive Nations League losses, culminating in a 2-1 defeat to Canada at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. While the 1-0 semifinal loss to Panama could be argued as a game where the U.S. played better, the same couldn`t be said against Canada. Facing a more open Canadian team, the USMNT only managed five shots, fewer than the twelve against defense-oriented Panama, and just 0.74 expected goals. These underwhelming performances forced Pochettino into damage control.
“I want to tell the fans, don`t be pessimistic or feel bad,” Pochettino stated after the Canada loss. “Losing is always painful in a process, but we must accept it. However, I don`t want pessimism. Disappointment is understandable, we all feel it, and fans should share our disappointment in not winning.”
He followed this with a promise:
“We will find a way to perform.”
Pochettino and his players agreed on the need for change. They believe these results necessitate reflection before they meet again in June for friendlies and the Gold Cup, their final competitive matches before the next World Cup. Identifying a single issue is difficult, perhaps unsurprising given the team`s recent struggles.
The coach wondered if different training camp approaches are needed but remains focused on building competitiveness before implementing tactical ideas. He expressed satisfaction with the players` attitude but suggested they were on autopilot during games.
“When it`s not your natural state, you can sustain it briefly but not consistently,” he explained. “We realized our performance against Panama wasn`t good, and we discussed changing the autopilot. You revert to survival mode, your habits. When it`s not your norm, you`re conscious. You think, `I need to press, I need to move.` When we have the ball, I want, `I need to change tempo, I need to attack.`”
Christian Pulisic supported this, particularly regarding the contrast between the USMNT`s and Panama`s intensity on Thursday, though he considers intensity discussions somewhat simplistic.
“After a loss, the easiest thing to say is they were more aggressive and had more heart,” Pulisic noted. “I do see it, especially with Panama, how much it means to them. It`s their everything, the biggest game. We can definitely learn from that.”
Tyler Adams highlighted inconsistent individual performances as hindering the USMNT`s ability to produce strong team performances.
“We need better individual performances collectively. Good individual performances in international football often spark something,” Adams said. “You find support, team positivity, and combining these individual efforts leads to a good team performance.”
Pochettino: “We Have Time”
The Nations League games were intended to assess the USMNT`s progress towards the 2026 World Cup on home soil, an event hoped to transform soccer in the U.S. A strong US team performance is central to this growth. While Pochettino`s initial months were positive, these games have caused a reassessment of the team`s potential.
This USMNT generation achieves traditional success markers unlike previous ones. Most of the core roster plays in Europe, with a record 11 players in this season`s UEFA Champions League. Some, like Pulisic and Robinson, are top league players. However, many are squad players, and some, like Turner and Reyna, have struggled for consistent playtime. It`s arguable that inconsistency has hindered their development and that this promising group hasn`t significantly progressed since the 2022 World Cup.
European-based USMNT players face “champagne problems” like long flights to Los Angeles and limited training before the first game. Combined with missing key injured players like Robinson, Dest, and Balogun, these are less than ideal circumstances for building a new identity under a new coach. They continue to trust the process, however recent, given the significant task ahead.
“Our journey is to grow soccer in America,” Adams stated. “Negativity towards our goals hinders that growth. We aim to be the catalyst, requiring success to inspire optimism. We must make a greater effort to become a team people support through passion, playing style, wins, great goals, whatever it is, but winning definitely creates optimism.”
Pochettino also prefers addressing growing pains now rather than next year.
“We need to change, and I`m not happy, but understand that negative results offer learning. Better now, because we have time… If we face this in a year, it`s a big problem, meaning we failed to identify and implement the best strategy for a different playing style. We have time, and I prefer it happens now, not in a year.”
The USMNT might learn valuable lessons from this Nations League disappointment, although there`s a long history of this group not progressing beyond the learning stage. With about 15 months until their World Cup opener, time is running out.
Luna Seizes His Opportunity
Despite many issues for the USMNT last week, midfielder Diego Luna earned widespread praise on Sunday. After participating in MLS-focused January camps in 2024 and 2025, the 21-year-old received a full squad call-up for this camp and started against Canada, assisting Patrick Agyemang`s first-half goal. Pochettino highlighted Luna as a standout player on Sunday, an example of desired player qualities.
“Diego Luna played well,” he said. “His desire and hunger are what we want, not to criticize others, just an example. When told he`d play, he was ready.”
Pulisic echoed this positivity about Luna, his first time playing alongside him internationally on Sunday.
“He`s an awesome kid,” Pulisic said about Luna. “He has a bright future. You see it today. He brings something different, has heart, and I love his playing style. Big future ahead.”
It`s a significant rise for Luna, who was omitted from the U-23 USMNT`s Olympics roster last summer and declined an alternate spot, considering representing Mexico afterward. He arrived at this month`s games with personal motivation, resulting in him being cap-tied to the USMNT.
“Not being well-known, not yet playing in Europe,” Luna said about his camp mindset. “My path is different from many players, from academy to USL to MLS, from not playing to starting. It`s been a different route, and I always have a chip on my shoulder.”
He added a comment likely pleasing to Pochettino.
“Coming from a tough background, fighting for everything earned, it`s easy to seek more, work harder, provide for my family, son, parents. It`s about playing for the crest. What more motivation do you need? Playing for your country is the biggest step in soccer.”
Dominic Ashworth