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An international break intended to preserve the homeostasis of the U.S. men’s national team has instead brought fresh disappointment in a summer marred by poor performances, the latest of which was Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Canada .
As a result, Tuesday’s match against New Zealand comes with the task for the team to finally show some long-awaited optimism, especially after interim head coach Mikey Varas admitted to the team’s wide variety of mistakes against Canada. While taking responsibility for the game’s tactical failures, including those that allowed Canada to take a 2-0 lead, Varas on Saturday questioned the players’ mentality, a comment he tried to walk back on Monday run in the comments before the match.
Regardless of Varas’ stance on the players’ efforts, the result leaves a sour taste in the month already looming following the USMNT’s earlier-than-expected exit from the Copa America group stage. The players had already described the goal of this international break as putting this summer’s disappointment behind them, which feels especially relevant as US Soccer looks to finally hire Mauricio Pochettino as the team’s new head coach this week, in the hope of charting a very ambitious path for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Here’s what to watch for as the USMNT closes out September’s international break against New Zealand.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday September 10 | Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Location: TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio
- TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Chances: United States -325; Sign +360; New Zealand +800
Fresh faces
It is designed in such a way that an international breakthrough led by an interim head coach charged with overseeing matches against under-30 teams is not intended to deliver anything revolutionary, something Varas seems well aware of. The most exciting thing about September’s friendlies, however, is that a few new faces made the roster, and perhaps the only positive about Saturday’s loss to Canada was that some even got the chance to start.
Five starters were not among the regulars during the USMNT’s ill-fated Copa America run on Saturday, with some faring better than others. Johnny Cardoso failed to profile himself as a contender for a starting position in midfield, which had felt uneasy for almost two years, but goalkeeper Patrick Schulte provided renewed competition in goal area. Ex-head coach Gregg Berhalter picked Turner ahead of the 2022 World Cup and stuck with him amid inconsistent performances and a lack of playing time at club level, but Schulte’s start following his battle for the U-23s at the Olympics suggests that the battle for the starting spot in 2026 has officially begun.
That position will be a big focus when the lineups drop on Tuesday, especially since there’s another notable contender in the mix: Turner’s longtime understudy, Ethan Horvath. Varas will be given the chance to tinker with the midfield again in the hope of finding a winning formula, while the outside back positions are a question mark this month, with Antonee Robinson getting a well-deserved break and Sergino Dest recovering from the ACL tear that he incurred. in the spring.
Mentality check
While Varas admitted he had to find tactical solutions in time for New Zealand, his observation that the players’ mentality was a factor contributing to their loss to Canada is as concerning as their technical errors. It’s especially worrying as this was also a talking point following the USMNT’s Copa America exit, with veteran defender Tim Ream admitting that “the intensity is falling through the cracks,” per University.
This talking point won’t go away on its own, nor will it become irrelevant after just one appearance in a friendly match where the USMNT is the favorite to win. However, Tuesday’s match against New Zealand offers an opportunity to actually correct course for a group that says they are keen to do so. Renewed competition for spots, such as the battle for the starting goalkeeper, will undoubtedly help, but weary fans will be just as eager to see a change in mentality from experienced players who hold leading positions and are unlikely to be out of the lineup anytime soon.
A renewed approach is also arguably necessary as Pochettino’s appointment is just around the corner, which will be the ultimate reset for a team that hasn’t changed much since Berhalter started building a new, young core in 2019. be in Cincinnati on Tuesday, but he will no doubt look to this summer’s games as a point of reference as he learns more about his new team. Every chance to make an impression counts in some way, even if there isn’t a signed contract yet.
The Pochettino watch continues
While Tuesday’s match could provide several answers about the USMNT’s extensive player pool, most spectators will focus on what’s happening off the field rather than on the events on it as the long wait to sign Pochettino continues.
Pochettino agreed to take the job last month and the deal is unlikely to cause any stumbling blocks on US Soccer’s part since the board of directors met on Sunday evening to discuss his appointment. according to ESPNa process that is considered a formality. However, the Argentinian has yet to put a payment dispute on paper with his former employer Chelsea and it is unclear whether that has been resolved. He is reportedly still on track to coach his first match next month when the USMNT returns to action for friendlies against Panama in Austin, Texas and Mexico in Guadaljara.
His appointment will be a big factor for the USMNT for another match, regardless of whether he makes it to Cincinnati in time for kick-off or not, especially as spectators try to piece together what Pochettino’s version of the national team could look like. Many will ultimately point to this month’s matches, as well as the Copa America performance, as examples of what he needs to fix – and how much work needs to be done when he finally shows up.