USMNT Crumbles Against Portugal: Alarming Loss Sends World Cup Hopes Into Freefall

The U.S. men's national team recorded its second loss in three days, going down 2–0 to defending UEFA Nations League champions Portugal on Tuesday night.

Similar to the Belgium match, the Stars and Stripes came out strong in Atlanta. Mauricio Pochettino's side controlled possession for extended periods, neutralized much of the visitors' attacking play and carved out several chances of their own.

However, Portugal's superior quality ultimately proved decisive. Francisco Trincão slotted home the opener in the 36th minute before João Félix doubled the advantage just shy of the hour mark. Both goals were created by Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes.

The USMNT couldn't mount any meaningful comeback and finished the match without even a consolation strike. While the Americans competed reasonably well for stretches, it's evident they remain far from the standard required to topple a top European side—a troubling reality with less than three months to go before the 2026 World Cup.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

Pochettino once again fielded a puzzling starting lineup on Tuesday, most notably deploying Christian Pulisic as the lone striker. Folarin Balogun, Patrick Agyemang and Ricardo Pepi were all left on the bench, meaning the Stars and Stripes lacked a natural center forward up top.

The decision stemmed from Pochettino's desire to get Pulisic, the team's standout performer, more involved in hopes he could finally find the net for the first time in 2026. Yet the Argentine coach did his squad no favors by leaving the struggling 27-year-old isolated for long stretches.

Tim Weah engineered the USMNT's best first-half opportunity, using his explosive speed to charge down the right flank and deliver a tantalizing cross into the box. Pulisic completely missed the delivery, which floated through untouched. That moment was just one of several where the American forward looked out of sorts and posed little threat.

Pulisic was at his most effective when receiving the ball at his feet, driving forward in transition and looking to create rather than finish. Had Balogun, Agyemang or Pepi led the line as the No. 9 with Pulisic deployed on his preferred wing, the USMNT's attack would likely have functioned far more effectively in the opening 45 minutes.

Instead, yet another tactical call from Pochettino put the Stars and Stripes at a disadvantage. The Argentine appeared to acknowledge his mistake at the break, withdrawing Pulisic in favor of Agyemang.

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Portugal (4-3-3)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Matt Freese—6.3: Looked sharp early with a fine stop to deny Bruno Fernandes. Let down by his defenders on both conceded goals.

RB: Alex Freeman—6.3: Rose to the occasion in a significant test. Kept Pedro Neto in check and held his ground in one-on-one duels with Nuno Mendes. Likely did enough to secure his spot at the 2026 World Cup, potentially as a starter.

CB: Chris Richards—6.0: Commanded the backline with composure. Remains one of Pochettino's most reliable options. Played a key role in keeping Gonçalo Ramos quiet.

CB: Auston Trusty—6.8: Put in a composed performance that gives Pochettino food for thought going forward. Made several excellent recovery runs to minimize Portugal's threat.

LB: Antonee Robinson—6.3: A positive presence for the USMNT when in possession. Lifted the team in the attacking third with his pace and vision. Unfortunate that he only featured in the first half.

CM: Weston McKennie—5.6: Gave the ball away in the sequence that led to Portugal's opening goal. Went to ground inside the box with no defender near him, wasting a golden counter-attacking opportunity. Did not return for the second half.

CM: Sebastian Berhalter—6.4: Will look back with regret at not pressing harder to close down João Félix for Portugal's second goal. Otherwise, showed glimpses of creativity throughout.

CM: Aidan Morris—7.1: His positioning lapse opened the passing lane for Vitinha to exploit in midfield, contributing to Trincão's goal. Was too hesitant on occasion.

RW: Tim Weah—5.9: Leveraged his electric pace to generate the team's most threatening moments from the right side. Contributed defensively when called upon.

ST: Christian Pulisic—5.6: Still far from his best. Wasted opportunities, let frustration boil over with needless fouls and failed to register a single shot on target. Substituted at halftime.

LW: Malik Tillman—6.5: Demonstrated his passing range and precision, but needed to make a greater impact in the final third. Too often found himself on the periphery rather than imposing his presence on the game.

SUB: Patrick Agyemang (46' for Pulisic)—6.1: Largely on the fringes until he fashioned a dangerous opening for Balogun in the 78th minute.

SUB: Tanner Tessmann (46' for McKennie)—6.0: His introduction caused the USMNT's midfield to lose any sense of structure and control.

SUB: Max Arfsten (46' for Robinson)—6.4: Found himself out of position on several occasions.

SUB: Joe Scally (67' for Tillman)—6.0: Retained possession well and was tidy on the ball.

SUB: Folarin Balogun (67' for Weah)—5.9: Blazed a clear-cut chance wide just 10 minutes after entering the pitch.

SUB: Gio Reyna (79' for Freeman)—6.2: Came on too late to make any meaningful contribution.

SUB: Brenden Aaronson (79' for Berhalter)—5.9: Managed only one shot and couldn't keep it on target.

SUB: Cristian Roldan (79' for Morris)—6.0: Completed just five passes during his brief appearance.

SUB: Mark McKenzie (91' for Trusty)—N/A

Subs not used: Chris Brady (GK), Matt Turner (GK), Patrick Schulte (GK), Tim Ream, Ricardo Pepi.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain the USMNT's Disappointing Defeat