Despite the disappointment the US Men`s National Team experienced in the recent international window, there is a silver lining. The team will have further opportunities to prove that the losses to Panama and Canada were merely setbacks and not a worrying trend leading up to the World Cup.
Typically, the summer between major international tournaments would offer rest for key USMNT players, as the Gold Cup is usually held in the years between the Concacaf Nations League and the World Cup. However, this summer might be different. Since the USA, Canada, and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup and have automatically qualified for the expanded tournament, they will not participate in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers resuming in June.
Due to the lack of qualifying matches and Concacaf`s tight schedule for major nations leading up to the World Cup, the summer window needs to be maximized for the USMNT. It represents their best opportunity to face strong competition before the World Cup preparations truly begin. It seems U.S. Soccer understands this, as friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland are scheduled for early June, prior to the Gold Cup.
Facing strong opponents like these friendlies is a good test, and it also suggests the possibility of bringing the first-team squad to the Gold Cup, instead of a roster mainly composed of domestic league players. A key difference between club and international management is the uninterrupted training time, which Mauricio Pochettino needs to fully unlock his team`s potential.
They only had three days of training before the Concacaf Nations League, compared to the players in the January camp who had several weeks with the Argentine manager. With the first friendly match on June 7th and the Gold Cup final on July 6th, Pochettino could potentially have the squad for a whole month if the USMNT reaches the final. This is a critical phase in World Cup preparation, and the participation of Saudi Arabia, invited to the Gold Cup, is an added benefit.
The USMNT will have the opportunity to face up to eight teams in the FIFA top 60 rankings and is guaranteed to play at least two teams currently in the top 30. Gathering the players for an extended period and facing strong opponents is a crucial chance for the team to learn and improve significantly.
The US defense was disorganized against Canada, and the only way to fix this is through consistent training together. Pochettino will also have time to work through mistakes and help the team develop new tactical approaches, such as breaking down a low block defense. After the loss to Canada, Pochettino mentioned that the team needs time, and the Gold Cup offers him a significant period to work with the squad.
`I`ve seen times when teams preparing for the World Cup weren`t performing well until the tournament itself,` Pochettino stated. `I want to send a message to the fans: don`t be pessimistic or feel discouraged.`
The best way to alleviate concerns is by winning games and playing good soccer. With the extended summer window, the USMNT has time to improve. They clearly demonstrated a need for growth during the Nations League, and a summer without club commitments might be exactly what they need to overcome their current slump in performance.
