As the U.S. Men`s National Team approached the Concacaf Gold Cup final on Sunday, a distinct sense of optimism was present, perhaps the strongest felt in at least a year. The squad, composed mostly of new or less experienced players under the guidance of the coaching staff, clearly benefited from five weeks and eight matches of collective work. Several individuals specifically took advantage of their opportunities during this period. However, the team`s subsequent 2-1 loss to regional rivals Mexico in the final served as a stark reminder that the initial optimism might have been a premature indicator.
Despite the outcome, this less experienced USMNT side featured clear standouts during the match at Houston`s NRG Stadium. Malik Tillman and Diego Luna made the most of their chances throughout the preceding month, and Chris Richards continued his strong form for both club and country. Sebastian Berhalter and Matt Freese even entered the discussion for potential inclusion in next year`s World Cup roster – a key individual goal for everyone who participated in the Gold Cup. The match started positively for the U.S., with Berhalter`s precise set-piece delivery allowing Richards to score the opening goal just four minutes in, a repeat of a successful play seen earlier in the tournament against Saudi Arabia.
The defeat to Mexico on Sunday, nonetheless, provided a significant reality check. It underscored that the improvements made by the USMNT over the last month represent only the initial steps on what needs to be a rapid upward trajectory in preparation for the World Cup. The team`s most convincing performances came against opponents they were heavily favored to beat. While winning these matches is an important step for a team that has struggled against various opponents in the past year, the next level required them to overcome Mexico, their final chance to win a trophy before the World Cup. Despite taking an early lead, that higher level of performance never materialized.
In almost every key metric during the Gold Cup final, the USMNT was outperformed. Mexico quickly gained control of the game despite conceding early. The U.S. side had no effective response to Mexico`s attack-oriented approach, being outshot 16 to six and registering significantly lower expected goals (0.64 vs. 1.26). The team appeared both overly cautious and surprisingly unresponsive, suggesting that this collection of inexperienced players was not collectively equipped to pass such a challenging test. Most concerningly, these issues were not unique to Sunday`s match for the USMNT.
A vulnerable defense had already jeopardized the USMNT`s progress earlier in the tournament, nearly costing them in the 2-1 semifinal win against the surprisingly strong Guatemala side. Similarly, an inability to consistently control the midfield was part of the mixed results seen in their group stage performances. Unfortunately, in the final, established players were just as responsible for the outcome as the newcomers. Center backs Richards and Tim Ream, still likely starters next year, showed moments of vulnerability, while Tyler Adams` passing against Mexico was less incisive than needed. Tillman and Luna, who had been difference-makers earlier, struggled to impact the final.
Despite the outcome, Sunday`s result doesn`t negate most of the positive developments from the summer campaign. The coaching staff`s focus on evaluating a wider player pool was successful; Tillman and Luna have clearly made a case for breaking into the starting lineup conversation, while Berhalter`s set-piece prowess and Freese`s penalty-saving abilities mean both are now contenders for next year`s World Cup roster. It`s also not particularly surprising that a squad primarily made up of fringe players didn`t lift the Gold Cup trophy, especially given the pre-tournament negativity surrounding the team – simply reaching the final was far from guaranteed. While winning a trophy was the primary objective, gaining a deeper understanding of the available players was a close second, and in that regard, the summer achieved important goals.
For the first time since the team`s Round of 16 exit at the 2022 World Cup, this tournament provided valuable new insights into the team`s capabilities, setting the stage for a fascinating final year of competition for roster spots. The real test of the U.S. team`s World Cup potential will come later this year when these Gold Cup standouts are integrated with established key players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. Upcoming friendlies, such as the ones in September against South Korea and Japan, offer a strong start to what hopefully will be a competitive schedule leading up to the World Cup, providing a more genuine assessment of the USMNT`s abilities.
The USMNT completed a complex form of redemption during the Gold Cup run. While the previous pervasive pessimism has lessened, the responsibility now falls on the coaching staff and players to find the right balance. The coach has faced criticism for struggling at times with in-game tactical adjustments or tempo-changing substitutions when the match demanded them. However, a compelling argument can be made that expanding the player pool, as done this summer, was a necessary prerequisite before those tactical solutions could fully emerge. While the team leaving the Gold Cup with several promising new players doesn`t guarantee they will meet expectations next year, it certainly gives this group a better chance to realize its potential – though tempering expectations may still be advisable.
Benedict Kingsley