The international break intended to keep the U.S. men’s national team fit has instead brought new disappointment to a summer of underwhelming performances, the latest being a 2-1 loss to Canada on Saturday.
As a result, Tuesday’s game against New Zealand will be about providing the team with some much-needed optimism, especially after interim coach Mikey Baras admitted a number of mistakes in the team’s win over Canada. He took responsibility for the game’s tactical failures, including the one that left Canada 2-0 up, but Baras questioned the players’ mental state on Saturday, comments he attempted to walk back in his pre-game comments on Monday.
Regardless of Varas’ stance on the players’ commitment, the result leaves a bitter taste in a month that has already been shaping up to be a big one after the USMNT’s earlier-than-expected group stage exit from the Copa America. The players have already described the goal of this international break as putting the disappointment of the summer behind them, which feels particularly relevant as US Soccer finally signs Mauricio Pochettino as the team’s new head coach this week, as they look to pave the way for a very ambitious 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Here’s what to watch for in the U.S. national soccer team’s game against New Zealand, which concludes its September international schedule.
Please check the consent box to confirm your subscription intent.
Thank you for registering!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
sorry!
An error occurred while processing your subscription.
How to watch and odds
- date: Tuesday, September 10 | hour: 7:00 PM EST
- location: TQL Stadium — Cincinnati, Ohio
- TV: TNT | Live Streaming: Fubo (Try it for free)
- multiplication: USA -325; Draw +360; New Zealand +800
New faces
An international break led by an interim manager who is deliberately overseeing matches against teams ranked 30th or below is unlikely to provide anything revolutionary, and Baras seems well aware of that. But the most interesting aspect of the September friendly is the presence of some new faces in the squad, and perhaps the only positive from Saturday’s loss to Canada is that several have been given a chance to start.
Five players selected on Saturday were not regulars in the lineup during the U.S. national team’s ill-fated Copa America campaign, and some performed better than others. Johnny Cardoso failed to establish himself as a contender for a starting spot in a midfield that has felt shaky for nearly two years, but goalkeeper Patrick Schulte provides some fresh competition in goal. Former coach Gregg Berhalter chose Turner ahead of the 2022 World Cup and stuck with him despite inconsistent performances and a lack of playing time at club level, but Schulte’s inclusion as a starter after competing for the U-23s at the Olympics suggests the race for a starting spot in 2026 is officially on.
When the lineup comes out on Tuesday, that position will receive a lot of attention, especially since there is another notable contender in Turner’s longtime assistant Ethan Horvath. Varas will have another chance to tinker with the midfield in search of a winning formula, and the outside back position is a question mark this month with Antonee Robinson getting a much-deserved rest and Sergino Dest recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in the spring.
Mental check
While Barras admitted that tactical adjustments were needed for New Zealand, his observation that the players’ mentality was a contributing factor to their defeat to Canada is as concerning as the technical errors, especially since the issue was also brought up after the US national team’s Copa America exit, with veteran defender Tim Ream admitting, according to Univision, that “the intensity was falling through the cracks.”
This topic won’t go away on its own, and it won’t be meaningless after a single win in a friendly that the U.S. national soccer team is likely to win. But Tuesday’s game against New Zealand offers a chance for a group that says it desperately wants to do so to actually correct course. While there will undoubtedly be some competition for spots, including the starting goalkeeper, jaded fans will want to see a change in mindset from the experienced players who are in leadership positions and won’t be out of the lineup for the time being.
It could also be argued that a rejuvenated approach is needed, given the imminent arrival of Pochettino, which would be the ultimate reset for a team that has not changed much since Berhalter began building a new young core in 2019. The potential new manager may not necessarily be in Cincinnati on Tuesday, but he will undoubtedly use this summer’s games as a reference point as he learns about his new team. Even without a signed contract yet, any opportunity to make an impression will be important in some way.
Pochettino continues to be monitored
Tuesday’s game could provide some answers about the expanded roster of the U.S. national team, but most onlookers will be more focused on what’s happening off the field than on the pitch, given the long wait for Pochettino to sign a new player.
Pochettino accepted the job last month and there appears to be no hurdle for US Soccer after the board met Sunday night to discuss his hiring, according to ESPN. The process is considered a formality. However, the Argentine has yet to sign off on a payment dispute with former employer Chelsea, and it is unclear if that has been resolved. He is expected to coach the USMNT for its first match next month when they play friendlies against Panama in Austin, Texas, and Mexico in Guadalajara.
His hiring will have a huge impact on the USMNT in another game, whether or not he arrives in Cincinnati in time for kickoff, especially as observers try to project what Pochettino’s version of the national team will look like. Many will ultimately point to this month’s game and Copa America performance as examples of what he needs to fix and how much work will be done when he finally shows up.
