USMNT Must Answer Tactical Concerns in Qatar
The United States Men’s National Team return to the World Cup after a tournament away. They failed to qualify for the previous competition in Russia, with their streak of seven consecutive appearances ended by an infamous loss to Trinidad and Tobago.
Since their disappointment in Couva five years ago, the Americans have rebuilt their roster around possession-based principles and a crop of new talent. They arrive in Qatar with a point to prove as a result.
“It’s extremely important for the USMNT to make a strong impression this time around because this has already been dubbed ‘the golden generation of US Soccer’ but they haven’t looked like it at times,” explains New Jersey-based sports journalist Mason Gallina.
The Americans qualified for the tournament directly from the CONCACAF branch, but have often produced vanilla performances under the direction of former Philadelphia Union boss Gregg Berhalter. While injuries to key players have been a factor, the 49-year-old is yet to unlock the true potential of the World Cup’s youngest squad.
“Berhalter has tons of critics because of his team’s inconsistent play and his lack of tactics through qualifying. Many players on the team are impact players at their clubs but haven’t been able to replicate success at a high level with their country [and] now is the time for them to put it all together,” Gallina adds.
Christian Pulisic is one such example. Despite his impressive strike rate on the international stage, the 24-year-old has frequently switched between wide and central roles for his country – which has contributed to the team’s lack of final third fluency.
Berhalter’s desire to field a deep-lying playmaker has also backfired at times, not least because his stars are unsuited for the role.
And that is where theory meets reality for the USMNT. While the Americans have developed a more attractive and technical playbook, their development has rarely shown up on the scoresheet.
“As I said before, Berhalter may be on the hot seat already and this is his time to prove he is the right coach to lead this young talented roster moving forward,” Gallina says, referencing the tension at the heart of this version of the USMNT.
While the American player pool has improved, chemistry still eludes Team USA.
“Aside from Pulisic, some players to watch are the midfield trio of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah. The three are regarded as one of, if not the, best midfield in CONCACAF so it’ll be interesting to see how they match up against other global powerhouses,” continues Gallina.
“In the attack, Brendan Aaronson has the potential to be a game changer for the USMNT. He’s looked great since making the move to Leeds United and has a motor that never stops. He’s relentless in pursuit of the ball and can be an energized bunny for the team, and also pot a few goals along the way.”
If their stars deliver, there is a realistic route to the knockout phase for the US. But they must start with a win over Wales on Monday [21 November] and carry their momentum into matchday two versus Iran.
“My expectation is for the team to qualify for the final sixteen,” Gallina predicts. “Wales and Iran are winnable games and if the team plays up to its potential, it can at least be competitive against England. A strong performance at this tournament is crucial to instil a winning culture in the young core of the USMNT roster but also to kickstart the hype train for the 2026 World Cup.”
It is difficult to forecast how the tournament will unfold for the Americans, but the complexities boil down to one question: will this untested USMNT squad sink or swim under the eyes of the world? Time will tell.
Mason Gallina covers the New Jersey Devils for The Hockey Writers. You can follow him on Twitter @Mason_Gallina13.