When the United States took the field in its first pre-Copa América friendly against Colombia on June 8, it made history before anyone touched a ball. For the first time, all 11 members of the U.S. starting lineup were from a club team in one of Europe’s top five leagues. The “golden generation” of American talent had finally, fully broken through to some of Europe’s top clubs. Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, AC Milan, AS Monaco, Fulham, Bournemouth and Celta Vigo are all represented in the squad.
Getting the best Americans to play in top foreign leagues has been a priority of the U.S. Soccer Federation for years. Once this dream is realized, one would surely expect America to be competitive with one of South America’s best teams in a friendly match on American soil. Instead, the Americans made history on the field in a different way.
A second-half collapse against the Colombians led to a 5-1 defeat. It was the most goals the United States has conceded in a match in 15 years, and only the second time since 1990 that they have allowed five. In possession, the United States made constant errors trying to get out of their own half under Colombian pressure, and high turnovers resulted in numerous chances for Colombia, plus three goals conceded in the 30 last minutes. Once-reliable goalkeeper Matt Turner, who would make 11 saves in the match against Brazil, struggled to stop his shot against Colombia.
If the national team had hoped to use this match to attract casual fans who probably haven’t watched a USMNT game since the World Cup 18 months ago, Colombia’s loss did just the opposite. In a stadium that appeared to be at least 60 percent Colombian fans, the Americans’ individual defensive errors kept piling up. Berhalter sounded the alarm with his comments the next day.
“From the 75th minute it was, I think, a lack of respect for our opponent and football, what we were doing,” Berhalter said.
The chances for a friendly victory outside CONCACAF kept coming. The Americans responded to the embarrassing defeat with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, but the lack of a big international victory remains one of Berhalter’s biggest criticisms as the Americans prepare to kick off the tournament. sending off the match against Bolivia in Group C of the Copa América. Sunday. Berhalter has five wins in 19 matches against FIFA top 20 teams since becoming coach in 2018, and four of them came against Mexico (the other was a 1-0 victory over Iran in of the 2022 World Cup). Success just hasn’t translated against teams outside of CONCACAF, despite the team’s talent base improving.
The USMNT were drawn into a group including Panama and Uruguay, as well as Bolivia, leaving them among the heavy favorites to advance to the quarterfinals. They are guaranteed at least one marquee match – against surging Uruguay in the final match of the group stage – and potentially more if they reach the round of 16. A place below second in the group would be a disastrous result that could leave Berhalter’s seat extremely hot.
If the United States exits Group C, a likely quarterfinal awaits them against Colombia or Brazil. Just two years before the United States co-hosts the 48-team World Cup (along with Mexico and Canada), it’s unclear what exactly would constitute success for the Americans in this tournament. Would a close quarterfinal loss to Brazil or even Colombia be enough to assuage concerns about the U.S.’s progress under Berhalter?
The talent pool that Berhalter must draw from is arguably greater than that of any American team in history. But in the 18 months since Qatar, Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams’ lack of playing minutes due to injuries, as well as the failure of a true European star to develop alongside Christian Pulisic, left the United States and its coach at a crossroads entering this tournament.
His performance in the 2022 World Cup served as the perfect Rorschach test for the national team, based on preconceptions about his talent level and Berhalter himself. Detractors will point to the ease with which the Netherlands beat the United States in the most important match. Others will say the Americans’ draw with England and progression beyond the group is a job well done and sets the table for the golden generation’s peak World Cup in 2026.
The United States hasn’t had many opportunities to host competitive matches against top teams around the world. After Europe added the Nations League, another tournament for its teams to compete against each other, CONCACAF added its own. The United States has fewer open windows to schedule friendlies due to additional CONCACAF Nations League matches, and many European and South American teams are unavailable due to matches within their own confederations. CONCACAF is a much weaker confederation, especially after the economic downturn in Mexico, and the United States no longer faces enough challenges to truly assess its position on the world stage.
Berhalter has prioritized improving the United States’ possession structure, but the USMNT has not always fared well against more talented teams. The similarities between the 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the World Cup and the friendly against Colombia should make even the pro-Berhalter camp uncomfortable. The United States retained 58 percent of the ball against the Dutch and controlled many midfield exchanges. They outshot the Dutch 17-11, but it was far too easy for the Netherlands to play through the U.S. in transition and create big scoring chances from the center of the box.
“The United States didn’t adapt,” then-Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said after the victory. “They didn’t adapt. We developed our tactical plan based on (targeting the flanks).
Guards Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson are two of the most aggressive players in the international game, but the Dutch took advantage of Dest’s defensive shortcomings in this match. His anterior cruciate ligament injury, suffered while playing for PSV Eindhoven in April, left Berhalter with his biggest lineup question of the summer: how to replace Dest at right back.
Tim Weah has played on the right wing for Juventus at various times this season, but Berhalter opted to start Borussia Monchengladbach’s Joe Scally at right back in the friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. Berhalter kept Weah in the lineup as a right winger and he scored a goal against Colombia.
More importantly, Scally held his own admirably against two of the world’s best strikers: Colombian Luis Diaz and Brazilian Vinicius Junior. He’s seemingly earned the right-back position, with Shaq Moore as the “break the glass in case of emergency” option behind him. Scally, Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson are the back four expected against Bolivia. Ream, 36, has looked a little slow to defend in space at times during friendlies, but his passing with the ball and his ability to carry the ball remain crucial priorities in Berhalter’s tactical system.
Adams started every game for the United States at the World Cup, but the emergence of Johnny Cardoso as a potential defensive midfield replacement last summer was crucial given Adams’ injury history. Adams only played 15 minutes in the two warm-up friendlies and barely played at club level for a full year. Cardoso makes sense as the more defensive option next to prop Weston McKennie. Berhalter could also choose Yunus Musah, the more progressive option, over Cardoso. Either way, a number of bodies will likely be circulating around the U.S. midfield, given that Adams doesn’t have the fitness to play a full 90 minutes.
Striker Josh Sargent was included in the 26-man squad despite missing both friendlies with a foot injury, but is not expected to start. The Copa América is Folarin Balogun’s first major tournament with the USMNT. The Monaco striker will have Weah, Reyna and star Pulisic behind him. Balogun was born in New York, raised in London and played on the international youth side for England, but is now signed to play for the United States at senior level.
The United States entered Qatar without a clear first-choice striker option, leaving them shorthanded to create quality chances from dangerous positions for all their dominance of possession. Balogun could be the solution to these problems.
Some feel the Americans’ current talent pool would be better suited by relying on the dribbling skills of McKennie, Pulisic and Reyna in a more pragmatic and direct offensive approach on the break. They don’t have an elite midfielder consistently blessed with the passing range to break down opposing defenses from established possessions.
Some of the Americans’ best chances against Brazil came from more direct attacking play. Robinson’s ball sent over the top to Ricardo Pepi never found him, but was instead played back to Musah, who forced Alisson to make a save from 25 yards out. Pulisic’s elite dribbling ability allowed him to beat two men to draw the foul and ultimately score the ensuing free kick just outside the penalty area. The Americans’ best chance of the match came from a Brenden Aaronson throw-in behind the Brazilian defense and a Pulisic pullback that Alisson saved.
Regardless of what outsiders and fans think of Berhalter, the U.S. Soccer Federation gave him a coaching contract through 2026, and the team’s top executives still seem to vouch for him in that role. An extreme result could force the federation’s hand, but the most likely scenario is that the United States reaches the round of 16 of this tournament, loses to a superior team, and then enters the 2026 cycle in a similar position to where they are now.
It’s not clear that there is an available and willing upgrade over Berhalter, and it’s even less clear that this golden generation of American talent is truly that much better than previous generations. The squad depth has undoubtedly improved and the clubs they play for are still going strong. But without this victory or this defining moment, the USMNT is still searching for the identity of this generation.