TAMPA — When it comes to the lowest moments in U.S. men’s national team history, nothing comes close to the epic failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
But the USMNT’s loss to Uruguay at the 2024 Copa América isn’t that far behind.
Christian Pulisic and the U.S. struggled against Uruguay in 2024 (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Let’s recount that steamy night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Americans needed a win to avoid becoming the first host nation in the history of soccer’s oldest continental soccer tournament not to qualify for the second round. Not only did they lose their third and final group stage match to La Celeste, but the U.S. team failed to muster a single goal and managed just three measly shots on target.
And in truth, the scoreline flattered the Americans. The gulf in class between the USMNT and the two-time World Cup champs was striking. The U.S. never for a moment looked as though they’d get the win needed and advance to the knockout phase. Ten days later, then-coach Gregg Berhalter paid the price, fired in a decision that should’ve surprised nobody.
Gregg Berhalter’s second stint as the USMNT coach ended with a loss to Uruguay. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
With 2022 U.S. World Cup captain Tyler Adams, star forwards Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah and other projected 2026 starters like midfielder Weston McKennie and center-back Chris Richards among the laundry list of Americans missing this month, McKenzie is just one of nine holdovers from Berhalter’s 26-player Copa roster.
Pochettino has played a number of newcomers since being hired in September 2024. The former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager has brought in 71 players since his first match on the sidelines last October – an astounding number considering he can only take 26 men to the World Cup.
Several have taken huge leaps forward this year, including right back Alex Freeman and central midfielder Tanner Tessmann. While neither was on the Copa squad — Freeman appeared in just two MLS games as an Orlando City rookie last year — both watched that last meeting between the U.S. and Uruguay from afar.
“I just remember that it was very scrappy,” Freeman told reporters on Monday ahead of practice. “I remember that, in these games, it’s going be aggressive. They’re going to press. They’re going to come at you.
“Sometimes you’re not going to keep your head,” added Freeman. “You have to be able to just make the best out of it, know that it’s going to be scrappy. But you’ve got to be even more scrappy if needed.”
Freeman was that and then some on Saturday.
Near the end of the USMNT’s 2-1 win over Paraguay in Chester, Pennsylvania, the 6-foot-3 son of Super Bowl-winner and Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Antonio Freeman was involved in a scuffle that caused both benches to clear.
“He’s so strong,” Pochettino told reporters on Monday when discussing Freeman. “He was against three [Paraguayans], and they couldn’t stop him. It’s difficult to upset him, but be careful.”
U.S. men’s team defender Alex Freeman got into a scrap with the Paraguayan players in Saturday’s win. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
