It’s time for Patrick Agyemang’s audition with USMNT to end | OneFootball

With most of its most established players and biggest stars absent, the USMNT’s summer schedule has turned into one big audition.

Some players are auditioning for a starting role at next summer’s World Cup, while others are auditioning for the final World Cup roster spots. For striker Patrick Agyemang, just one game into the Gold Cup, it’s time for the audition to end, because it’s clear he’s not good enough to help the U.S. during the 2026 World Cup.

Deceiving production

Based solely on the numbers, Agyemang has had great success with the national team. He made his first international appearance in January, scoring in each of his first two USMNT games. With a goal in the Gold Cup opener against Trinidad & Tobago, Agyemang now has four goals in his first seven international caps.

However, those numbers are misleading and not representative of his performances or ability to make an impact at the international level.

His first two goals came in January against watered-down Venezuela and Costa Rica teams. The Nations League goal he scored against Canada was an easy tap-in that came about because of a great run by Tim Weah and a slick pass by Diego Luna. Finally, Agyemang’s goal against Trinidad & Tobago was nothing more than a fortuitous deflection on a shot from Luna, who was far more deserving of the credit.

Outside of his goals, Agyemang has done nothing to show that he can hold his own at the international level. In the 2-1 loss to Türkiye, Agyemang was out-worked and out-muscled by Türkiye’s center backs time and time again. He lost nearly all of his duels and was easily dispossessed when receiving the ball. The results weren’t much better after coming on as a second-half sub in the 4-0 loss to Switzerland.

Against Trinidad & Tobago, Agyemang’s goal masked an otherwise poor performance. Even against an overmatched Trinidad squad, Agyemang struggled to win duels or draw fouls. He also failed to capitalize on bona fide goal-scoring chances, yet received credit for getting in the way of Luna’s shot for the USMNT’s 44th-minute goal. With Agyemang as the starting striker, the U.S. scored five goals despite him, not because of him.

While blessed with great size, Agyemang has struggled to use it at the international level. He’s also failed to show the technical abilities or quick thinking that are needed to contribute to the national team. Despite a seemingly impressive goal-scoring record, if you look closely at his on-field performance, it’s clear that Agyemang is barely able to contribute to the USMNT during the Gold Cup, much less the World Cup next summer.

Audition over

The 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago is likely to be as easy as it gets for the USMNT in the Gold Cup. If Agyemang couldn’t deliver a dominant performance against the Soca Warriors, he’s not going to be able to contribute much going forward. Regarding both the World Cup and their hopes in the Gold Cup, it’s best for the USMNT if Agyemang is relegated to the bench for the rest of the tournament.

Granted, the Gold Cup roster doesn’t have a proven international striker. However, Brian White or Damion Downs should get the same opportunity that Agyemang received against Türkiye, Switzerland, and Trinidad & Tobago. Playing Haji Wright as a more traditional striker is another intriguing option, especially with the way Luna, Malik Tillman, and Brenden Aaronson played in the win over Trinidad.

Plus, if the USMNT is at full strength next summer, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, and Josh Sargent are in line to compete at the striker position. All three are miles ahead of Agyemang when healthy, giving Agyemang a narrow path to the World Cup roster already. Based on his first seven caps, there is virtually no chance for Agyemang to play his way onto the 2026 World Cup roster, which is why it’s time for his USMNT audition to end.