The USMNT‘s bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title ended in disappointment with a shocking 1-0 loss to Panama. This defeat not only marked an early exit from the tournament but also raised critical questions about this so-called ‘golden generation’ of players as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
With just more than a year ahead of the biggest tournament in USMNT history, the performance against Panama highlighted significant concerns regarding the team’s readiness to compete at the highest level. The match was characterized by poor tactical decisions, a lack of attacking creativity, and frustration among fans. Following the final whistle, discussions quickly devolved into a blame game.
Critics aimed their frustrations at head coach Mauricio Pochettino, accusing him of making questionable tactical choices and ineffective substitutions. Others pointed fingers at star player Christian Pulisic, claiming that he failed to rise to the occasion when the team needed him most. The broader conversation centered on the perceived lack of passion, urgency, and grit that the USMNT must develop to truly compete on the world stage.
Antonee Robinson’s injury before the semi-final forced Pochettino into unexpected changes, including shifting Joe Scally to left-back and placing Yunus Musah at right-back. Tyler Adams made his first appearance under the new manager in a deeper midfield role, limiting his potential impact. Instead of deploying a creative midfielder like Gio Reyna or Diego Luna, the Argentine coach opted to keep Christian Pulisic in a central role, which deprived the US of width and made it easier for Panama to defend.
Despite controlling possession, the Americans struggled to penetrate the away team’s defense. In the dying moments, Cecilio Waterman scored a stoppage-time goal, beating Matt Turner at his far post to seal the shock. This last-minute goal stunned SoFi Stadium, leaving home fans in disbelief and granting the visitors another victory following their Copa America elimination.
What did Mauricio Pochettino say after the game?
In his post-match remarks, Pochettino offered a blunt assessment of the team’s performance. “The way we approached the game and started it wasn’t right,” he acknowledged. “The first half was really painful to see.”
Pochettino’s comments echoed the sentiments of many Yanks fans and analysts, who noted a lack of intensity, urgency, and a coherent attacking identity. Even players recognized their shortcomings, with Christian Pulisic candidly discussing the team’s inability to break down Panama’s defense.
“We obviously had the ball most of the game, but we just couldn’t create enough,” the Milan ace remarked in an interview with The Athletic. “We weren’t dangerous enough. And yeah, you know, they got one shot at the end, and that was the story.”
Earlier this week, Mauricio Pochettino said the USMNT has the potential to ‘dominate soccer’ and could be ‘number 1 in the world’ within the next 10 to 15 years.
We just lost to Panama in Nations League. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/6dSfy0DmsN
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) March 21, 2025
The defeat and Pochettino’s criticism sharply contrasted with his previously expressed confidence in the USMNT’s future. Earlier that week, the Argentine manager boldly stated that the US could ‘dominate soccer’ and potentially become the “number one team in the world” within the next 10 to 15 years.
