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U.S. men's national team icon Landon Donovan urged fans to "not get carried away" following the Stars and Stripes' commanding win over Peru on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino's squad returned to the pitch for the first time since their early World Cup exit in the round of 16, eager to bounce back after a painful 4–1 loss to Belgium. Even without key players like Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie, the USMNT delivered an impressive performance in Orlando, beating Peru 4–1 in their opening match of the September-October international window.
Newcomers Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored on their international debuts, while Malik Tillman and Sebastian Berhalter also got on the scoresheet in the convincing victory. The result was widely celebrated as an encouraging start for the Stars and Stripes as they embark on the lengthy journey toward the 2030 World Cup.
Donovan acknowledged the "great result" on social media, but quickly tempered the excitement. "Everyone settle down a little bit. Peru is not the best team in the world," he said.
The former forward went on to describe it as a "really good performance" overall and gave special recognition to Ellis, Hall and Cavan Sullivan for their contributions. Donovan then repeated his earlier caution: "Let's not get carried away, but this is a really good start."
As if two reminders weren't sufficient, Donovan delivered the message one final time before signing off: "Don't go crazy, but very positive all around."
Does Donovan Have a Point?
Donovan finds himself in a familiar role: serving as a voice of reason for the USMNT. Despite his deep connection to the national team, the 44-year-old has always been candid when it comes to the Stars and Stripes.
This time, he rightly highlighted Peru's modest standing to keep expectations in check for Pochettino's side during the September-October international break. After all, Peru entered Saturday's match having won just three of their last 17 games and failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The USMNT was widely expected to come away with a win, particularly with the support of the home crowd. The true tests still lie ahead, when the Stars and Stripes face Chile, Mexico and Canada.
Should they produce an equally dominant display against any of those three sides, Donovan might finally embrace the excitement. But until a strong showing comes against a more formidable opponent, the American legend is keeping his enthusiasm in check—and understandably so.
After all, Zlatan Ibrahimović had declared Pochettino's men capable of winning the World Cup this summer following a strong group stage, only for the team to be thoroughly outclassed by Belgium in their first serious test of the tournament.
Pochettino Building for the Future
Few people understand the peaks and valleys of the USMNT better than Pochettino. The manager could only look on as his side finished fourth in the Concacaf Nations League in 2025, before suffering defeat to Mexico in the Gold Cup final just months later.
The team then went on a remarkable run at this summer's major tournament, only to fall short when it mattered most in the round of 16. To prevent similar disappointments in the years ahead, Pochettino is reshaping the squad and its culture, blending emerging young talent with experienced veterans.
"I think after one week, and the way that we are going to continue is going to be, we are so excited now to continuously build that journey in the next few games and few weeks," Pochettino said following Saturday's victory.
Eleven players made their USMNT debuts in the lopsided win, including eight teenagers. "They deserve a big credit from the first to the last one," the Argentine added.
"I think from Monday that we start to train, we start to perceive and to feel that good energy and good quality that all the players that arrive for first time are showing us. I think [we] start to feel that energy and the quality that they can add to our national team. So proud because I think we competed really well."