The USMNT Enters the 2026 World Cup With More Questions Than Answers | OneFootball

The March FIFA window has closed, and the United States did not look any better in the final two matches before the 2026 World Cup. After nearly four years, the national team continues to be Jekyll and Hyde, with no clear path heading into the all-important home tournament.

It was the same old story for the United States men’s national team in its two friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side continued to showcase all of its internal struggles against opponents that will expect to make deep runs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite two decent first halves in each match, the U.S. fell apart once substitutions entered the game, and the defensive issues against quality attacking threats were once again on display.

Instead of taking a more defensive route, Pochettino decided to fight fire with fire, deploying attack-minded formations in both matchups, but compared to their opponents’ scorching blaze, the U.S. was merely a controlled burn. They simply did not have the same cohesion and quality of Belgium and Portugal, and the Americans oftentimes looked bewildered throughout each match.

The end result was more frustration for U.S. fans and pundits, who continue to see the same issues that have plagued the team for nearly eight years. The “Golden Generation” now enters the stretch run toward its World Cup opener against Paraguay still with the same mission as before: perform well at the World Cup, despite asking fans to ignore what has been a dismal cycle up to this point.

Here are the takeaways from the March window before the final World Cup roster is announced in May.

A Silly Goalkeeper Swap

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Against Belgium, Pochettino shocked many by starting Matt Turner in goal. Turner, the U.S. No. 1 at the last World Cup, has been mundane for the New England Revolution, and while he looked to be the American keeper of the future, his stock has dramatically dipped over the past four years. Regardless of Turner’s performance in the match (it wasn’t good), the decision to start him alone sent mixed messages.

Mainly, why not give Matt Freese another cap and a chance to further solidify himself with the national team, as he had been doing up to that point? Freese returned with a solid performance against Portugal, rising to the occasion after a benching that made little sense to many.

One would now assume Freese will be the starter going forward, but who knows if we’ll be in for another surprise come June.

Why Attacking-Minded Football Will Be Difficult

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Playing a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 at the World Cup looks like a risky proposition for the U.S., who are prone to major defensive lapses and struggle to track back in transition. The team looked better against sides like Paraguay with a back three and a more compact midfield, which raises the question: why did Pochettino revert to a formation that has provided little in the way of meaningful results?

Still, regardless of formation, the United States will have to tread cautiously when going full attack. A more collected, defensive-minded approach must be considered, but that is not in Pochettino’s DNA. The U.S.’s best players are attack-minded, and with limited defensive work rate, trying to play attractive, attacking football has hindered rather than helped the team under the past two managers.

A Merry-Go-Round of Names

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What can a manager with the weight of the biggest World Cup in modern history on his shoulders do to make things easier? Stick to the basics.

Instead, Pochettino continues to rely on changes, tweaks, and constant rotation. The U.S. once again played a window in which virtually every position saw changes in some form. While it is important to test and experiment, too much experimentation, and a perhaps exaggerated belief in the depth of the player pool, has made the USMNT a convoluted mess.

The United States has not fielded the same starting lineup three games in a row for what feels like ages. While there is an idea of what the team might look like, some players have been moved all over the pitch instead of solidifying themselves in one role. Tim Weah is a prime example: at times a winger on the left, at others a right full back.

U.S. fans are still left wondering what the ideal formation and starting XI is. While most nations have their backbone set, the U.S. is still searching for how to make its pieces fit.

Focusing on one or two individual performances by some players does little to ease questions about the collective whole of the team.

Major Disappointments

Some players expected to deliver for the U.S. continue to disappoint. Johnny Cardoso has yet to produce a truly meaningful performance for the team. Malik Tillman is another player who struggles to gel with Christian Pulisic and Weah in key moments, and the prospect of seeing more of Tanner Tessmann leaves a sour taste among fans.

Then there are players whose level at this stage is under serious question. Auston Trusty is decent, but can Pochettino truly rely on the Celtic defender? Sebastian Berhalter can be useful on set pieces but is prone to pace issues against stronger opponents.

Ricardo Pepi, who has a proven knack for scoring goals, remains underutilized by the manager.

Worrying Times for Christian Pulisic

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Fans are rightfully concerned about Pulisic, whose 2026 has been underwhelming. Nagging injuries at the start of the year have derailed what looked to be a career season at AC Milan.

While he was dangerous yet frustrated against Belgium, Pulisic struggled significantly against Portugal. With pressure mounting for him to deliver for both club and country, he finds himself in a unique position as the face of both teams. While he does have support, expectations remain extremely high.

Pulisic has the talent to snap out of these struggles, and he has done so before. But it is concerning to see the USMNT’s most important player searching for form as the World Cup draws closer.

It’s Time to Temper Expectations

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A body of work is more telling than the optimism some pundits have about this USMNT. For the better part of six years, this core group has struggled under two managers to find consistency and to defeat opponents above their level.

With a favorable World Cup group, one might expect the U.S. to win all three matches. However, a team prone to poor performances could just as easily deliver unwanted surprises.

Still, with as many as three teams advancing to the knockout rounds, it is difficult to imagine the U.S. not reaching the Round of 32. But then again, this team has a habit of producing frustrating and unpredictable results.

If the USMNT reaches the knockout stages, the demand for a statement win will be high. Yet history shows the U.S. has little to point to in terms of major victories. Sure, the team closed out 2025 with a 5-1 win over Uruguay, but that’s a team that has struggled, unlike the polished squads of Belgium or Portugal.

For now, all signs point to the obvious: the U.S. will likely progress only as far as opponents of equal or lesser quality allow. When facing true contenders with greater cohesion and talent, the team tends to falter.

Still, fans and pundits dare to dream. And after being told for three years that only the World Cup matters, many will choose to overlook what has been a very disappointing and revealing 2026 cycle.