INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The frustrations with this U.S. men’s national team have been simmering for some time, built not just through a series of underwhelming performances, but also in a growing perception of complacency and entitlement.
On Sunday night, after a 2-1 loss against Canada that didn’t even feel too surprising, the most productive player in the program’s history publicly voiced that disappointment.
“I’m so sick of hearing how ‘talented’ this group of players is and all the amazing clubs they play for,” USMNT legend Landon Donovan posted on X after the Concacaf Nations League Finals third-place playoff. “If you aren’t going to show up and actually give a s!%* about playing for your national team, decline the invite. Talent is great, pride is better.”
Donovan was hardly alone in expressing that sentiment about a team that some have dubbed the most talented generation of players in American history. Former USMNT players Stu Holden and Clint Dempsey, and even legendary French striker Thierry Henry, noted the growing disconnect and discontent between this group, its fanbase and the program’s alumni.
The disappointment around this team is not just because of the results. Yes, this U.S. team is falling short of expectations. But it’s also how this team is losing these games. The way Panama and Canada played offered a stark contrast. They looked like they had something to prove. The U.S. looked like they believed they didn’t have to prove anything to anyone.
The U.S. couldn’t match its opponents’ fight. They were out-willed. What once felt like a hallmark of U.S. teams now feels like a weakness. The Americans were flat against Panama, lacking the creativity and directness to break them down. There was more energy at the start against Canada, but they faded against a team that clearly wanted it more.
The narrative that this might be the U.S.’s golden generation was crafted because a group of players landed at big clubs in Europe earlier than any Americans before them. Putting aside the question of whether that was down to talent or the globalization of the sport (and the impact of Christian Pulisic’s success at Borussia Dortmund), it’s now clear that whatever ability this U.S. group has, it’s not enough to overcome teams that play like they have something more to fight for.
Panama might not have the talent of this U.S. team, but it looked the stronger team. Canada also has players at top clubs, but it’s a team that plays with a clear chip on its shoulder. It was once a prerequisite that U.S. teams came with that mentality — and to be fair, the current players showed that level of fight at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and in other big games, too. But that spirit has not been evident. Last year’s 3-1 win over Jamaica in the Nations League semifinal after a last-minute equalizer was a warning shot. The Copa América was obviously a reality check. A coaching change was made in search of a spark.
This week’s results at the SoFi Stadium show how much work must be done to figure out exactly what has changed since the World Cup exit. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino isn’t blind to the problem. After the loss on Sunday, he pondered how to turn a collection of players that looks great on paper into a team that consistently demonstrates its talent on the field.
“We assume. It may be because we have a certain quality,” Pochettino said. “But when it comes to competing, perhaps we don’t show that quality — or that presumption of quality — that makes us appear better than our opponents in all the analysis before playing.
“But then we have to prove it. So maybe that’s what’s costing us. We assume we’re better, but when it comes to competing, when it comes to showing it, perhaps we fail to find that form.”
How Pochettino accomplishes that is his biggest task. This roster felt like Pochettino beginning to search for answers. For the 23-man squad, he called in nine MLS players from January camp, including three injury replacements. It felt like a bid to manufacture competition within the team by adding hopefuls desperate to break into the World Cup picture.
It may not have changed the results, but it wasn’t a complete failure. On Sunday, Pochettino praised attacking midfielder Diego Luna for his mindset. Luna, 21, was making his competitive debut for the U.S. He hasn’t played in Europe. He played in the USL and then in MLS for Real Salt Lake. He saw this as his chance to break into a group where some might think he didn’t belong.
“The desire and the hunger that he showed is what we want,” Pochettino said. “And that is not to say anything against the rest of the people; it’s only one example. When I told him today you are going to play, he was ready. And after playing well or not playing well, performing well, scoring, assisting — or not — that is what we want to see. And that is the example that we need to take.”
Pochettino put the onus on himself and his staff to get things right. He has had just three windows with his full team: October and November 2024 and this March camp. This summer’s Gold Cup will be a vital opportunity to spend a month with the group and to find a way to unlock the requisite mentality needed to compete.
The Argentine manager is celebrated for creating and inspiring strong groups at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Even at Chelsea, Pochettino got more out of the team he inherited. Can he unlock a similar motivation in a U.S. group that has regressed since Qatar? Could the growing discontentment around them create a feeling of us versus the world?
Something must change to get this team to live up to its hype — and to do so at an all-important home World Cup that has the opportunity to inspire the next generation of American soccer fans and players.
Pochettino reminded everyone that the 2026 World Cup is still the ultimate goal. He asked fans not to lose that perspective.
“I don’t want the people to feel pessimistic,” he said. “Disappointed? Disappointed, we are all. And the fans need to feel the disappointment that we didn’t win. But I don’t want to allow (them) to feel pessimistic, because we have good players. We are going to find a way to perform. We are going to compete in a different way. We are going to get different results than Thursday and today.”
The U.S. is running out of time to figure it out. The Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts in June, is probably their last best chance to generate excitement before the World Cup — and build momentum within the team itself.
(Top photo: Alex Gallardo/Imagn Images)
