Let’s not mince words: the USMNT display at the World Cup in what would be the final match of a fantastic and fun run to the Round of 16 was abysmal. Losing 4-1 to a team that seemed concerned enough to threaten legal action if Folarin Balogun was in the Starting XI is a bad look. How they went about that loss is perhaps even worse.
Nevertheless, that shouldn’t totally sour what was otherwise a quality run and one of the most successful World Cups in American history. Three wins, including a knockout win, and topping a group are nothing to sneeze at. But it is over now. So what’s next?
What Comes Next for USMNT?
In the immediate aftermath, players for the USMNT will eventually head back to their clubs. The World Cup ends on July 19, and in the days after that, leagues around the world will restart. The Americans are done early, so they will have a couple of weeks to rest and reset after the tournament.
If you’re an American fan just getting into the sport and falling in love with the players, you may not have a club to support. There are several good options that currently employ the American stars:
- Christian Pulisic stars for a top Italian team, AC Milan
- Weston McKennie plays for perhaps the best Italian team, Juventus
- Folarin Balogun stars for French club AS Monaco
- Tyler Adams is a key cog for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth
- Chris Richards plays for Crystal Palace in the same league
- Antonee Robinson is one of the best backs in the Prem and plays for Fulham
- Both Gio Reyna and Joe Scally play for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany
- World Cup standout Malik Tillman is also in Germany, playing for Bayer Leverkusen
- Both Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi play for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands
- In the MLS, plenty of players, including Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)and Matt Freese (New York City FC), star
These players won’t wear the red, white, and blue for now, but they’re still playing, and you can still support them in their worldwide club games. For once, there’s so much American talent that has overflowed to top leagues around the world rather than mostly just the MLS.
Additionally, the USMNT will begin its search for a head coach. Mauricio Pochettino’s contract was through the World Cup. They reportedly offered an extension through 2030, but it’s unclear if that’s still on the table. Pochettino may want to move on, and the Americans may not want him back after an utter disaster in the most important game in the nation’s history.
Next Appearances
But if you’re like me, then those club appearances just don’t hit the same. The MLS is a solid league, but it’s not on the same level as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, or Ligue 1. But those teams are ridiculously far away, and it’s hard to be invested. There is a local team (Charlotte FC), but nothing is like watching the Americans all come together.
The next World Cup is not for four years, and a ton of these players likely will not be back. But there are appearances in the meantime, and not just friendlies. There are tournaments coming up that will allow these players to compete for national pride once more, just not on the same scale.
The CONCACAF Nations League is up next. It will begin in September and end in March. This is a short tournament with two games each against opponents from the region. The USMNT, with a bye, does not play in the Group Stage in September. Their first match will be in November.
Then, they’ll compete in another CONCACAF tournament, the biennial Gold Cup. This will take place from March to July 2027, and it’s a standard bracket tournament. Win and advance, lose and go home. It is a 16-team tournament, and performance in the Nations League determines placement and qualification for the Gold Cup.
In 2028, the United States may once again compete in the Copa America, a CONMEBOL tournament. They and other CONCACAF teams competed in the 2024 edition, and it was a success. Currently, they’re in talks to renew that deal for the next tournament edition, but nothing is final.
After that, it’s World Cup Qualifying. The USMNT will then begin work to qualify for the 2030 Cup. Remember, as a host nation, they didn’t have to qualify, so there’s much more importance placed on the run-up to the World Cup. Though it all obviously ended fine, the games before the World Cup, save the last two friendlies, were pretty rough for the Americans.
There aren’t many international tournaments, which is what makes most of them so special. And there are so few World Cups, which is why it’s a disappointment that this one is over, even if this was always the most likely endpoint for the Americans. Still, there are plenty of ways to continue supporting the team in the future.
