Sun Mar 23 23:20:00 UTC 2025: ## USMNT’s World Cup Hopes Dim After Concacaf Nations League Exit

**LOS ANGELES** – The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, raising serious concerns about their readiness for the 2026 World Cup. Former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller stated he hasn’t seen any positive changes since Mauricio Pochettino replaced Gregg Berhalter.

Despite flashes of brilliance, the team’s persistent weaknesses were exposed. A lack of early aggression and an inability to break down compact defenses, particularly against Panama – a team that has now defeated the US three times consecutively in tournament play – remain significant hurdles. The team’s attacking prowess also came under scrutiny; despite dominating possession against Panama (811 touches), they generated only 0.68 expected goals, their lowest xG with over 800 touches since 2017.

The upcoming Gold Cup has become crucial for Pochettino to build team cohesion and test his players. However, key players like Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Gio Reyna may miss the tournament due to the Club World Cup. With limited international windows before the World Cup, Pochettino faces a monumental task.

Injuries have also plagued the squad. The absences of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, key attacking fullbacks, significantly hampered the team’s offensive capabilities. The lack of a consistent attacking spark is further exacerbated by injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi.

Pochettino’s tactical decisions also drew criticism. The inclusion of Tanner Tessmann in midfield, alongside the defensively-minded Tyler Adams, seemed redundant against Panama’s defensive setup. The manager acknowledged a lack of aggression, particularly in the first half.

While acknowledging the need for players to step up, Pochettino is working to foster competition for places and inject more attacking intent into the team. However, with the World Cup looming, the USMNT needs to demonstrate significant improvement quickly. The upcoming third-place game against Canada offers a chance to implement lessons learned and show signs of progress, although a low bar has been set following the disappointing defeat to Panama.

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