USMNT's 2025 Rollercoaster: From Glory Highs to Crushing Lows

The United States men's national soccer team began 2025 understanding the significance of the year as preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which they will jointly host with Canada and Mexico.

This marked the first complete calendar year under head coach Mauricio Pochettino's guidance. The year presented two chances to claim silverware, with the Concacaf Gold Cup and Nations League representing the final competitive matches before the World Cup.

However, it became a turning point. The USMNT failed to secure any trophies, experienced some of their poorest performances since the early 2000s, and utilized more than 50 players, though they finished with an 8W-2L-2D record and remained unbeaten in five matches against Top 50 ranked teams.

The year brought numerous setbacks, some highlights, and additional uncertainties—here's Sports Illustrated's comprehensive analysis.

Top USMNT Highlights of 2025

Matt Freese's Heroics Against Costa Rica

2025 marked a goalkeeper transition for the USMNT as New York City FC's Matt Freese replaced Matt Turner, who faced challenges with limited minutes before a complicated transfer eventually brought him back to MLS with New England Revolution.

Freese started the final 12 matches of the year for the USMNT, with his finest performance coming during a crisis moment. Following Canada's shocking loss to Guatemala in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals, the USMNT faced Costa Rica in a penalty shootout at the same stage, avoiding elimination thanks to Freese's brilliant saves.

Though he had already established himself as the tournament starter and Pochettino's preferred choice in 2025, his three penalty saves and dynamic presence created one of the year's standout moments—despite the USMNT's eventual final defeat to Mexico.

The Commanding 5–1 Victory Over Uruguay to Close the Year

Following difficulties in the early and middle portions of 2025, the year's conclusion couldn't have been more positive for the USMNT, culminating in a resounding 5–1 triumph over Uruguay.

The commanding performance started immediately, with Sebastian Berhalter scoring a spectacular free kick from the box's edge, and the Americans held a 4–1 advantage at halftime. This represented the USMNT's most impressive victory in 2025 and showcased excellent displays from multiple players potentially on the World Cup roster bubble, boosting confidence in the squad's depth.

Autumn International Success and Tactical Shift to Three-Back Formation

While the decisive Uruguay victory concluded the year, the entire autumn schedule proved successful for the USMNT. They defeated Japan, Australia, Uruguay and Paraguay, while drawing with Ecuador—all five teams ranked within FIFA's top 40.

The run's most crucial moment occurred against Japan in September, when Pochettino changed the USMNT from the 4-2-3-1 formation used in 11 prior matches to a 3-4-2-1, transitioning to a five-back system defensively.

This adjustment immediately transformed the USMNT's performance and made wingbacks Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman genuine attacking threats in transition. The three-man defense of Tristan Blackmon, Tim Ream and Chris Richards limited Japan to just one clear scoring opportunity. Folarin Balogun and Alex Zendejas found the net in the 2–0 victory.

Though the USMNT may adjust defensive personnel, Blackmon missed subsequent October and November call-ups due to injury. The tactical change initiated a new phase under Pochettino, allowing American soccer supporters to envision a potential World Cup breakthrough.

The 2026 World Cup Group Stage Draw

The USMNT's prospects for a tournament run depend heavily on group stage performance—and the draw ceremony produced quite favorable results in one of the most dramatic draw shows in tournament history.

Following extensive ceremony led by Gianni Infantino, the USMNT was grouped with Paraguay and Australia, teams they defeated during autumn friendlies, plus one of Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia, or Türkiye—the last of which they faced during one of their summer low points.

Lowest USMNT Moments of 2025

Concacaf Nations League Catastrophe

The sole competitive matches Christian Pulisic participated in during 2025, the March Concacaf Nations League finals, proved catastrophic for the USMNT. They suffered a 1–0 semifinal loss to Panama and were dominated by Canada in a 2–1 defeat.

This period saw Matt Turner lose his starting position for the remainder of the year and likely the World Cup, while the men's national team program entered one of its most challenging recent periods.

Multiple other players, particularly Yunus Musah, found it difficult to regain their places in the squad throughout the year.

Christian Pulisic Controversy

Christian Pulisic delivered some of his finest career performances in 2025. Regrettably, none occurred while representing the USMNT. His most prominent moments involved reported conflicts and disagreements with Pochettino, with both parties addressing the situation publicly on podcasts rather than resolving matters privately.

Pulisic chose to skip the Gold Cup and preparatory friendlies for rest, leaving the USMNT without key players during a crucial summer period. He stated on the CBS Sports Golazo show that he wanted to participate in friendlies but not the Gold Cup, frustrating Pochettino.

"I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin," Pochettino responded when questioned about Pulisic's request before the Gold Cup, having previously criticized the team's mentality in May: "If you arrive at the camp and you want to spend a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend, that is the culture that we want to create? No, what we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused and spend all my focus and energy in the national team. If we want to be good in one year, we need to think that today is the most important day."

Pochettino also revealed that neither had communicated between that disagreement and Pulisic's September return to the national team, with the Argentine coach adopting a less personal approach than previous USMNT managers.

Fortunately, relations appeared improved by year's end, though both hopefully remain aligned for 2026.

Pre-Gold Cup Defeats, Including Swiss Demolition

Briefly, speculation emerged that Pochettino's USMNT tenure might conclude before the World Cup, with such talk intensifying after his team lost 2–1 to Türkiye and 4–0 to Switzerland in pre-Gold Cup friendlies.

These defeats followed losses to Canada and Panama in Nations League semifinal and third-place matches, dropping team confidence to unprecedented lows under Pochettino, particularly without numerous key players (detailed further below).

With the fourth consecutive loss, the USMNT reached its worst run since 2007.

Gold Cup Final Disappointment

The USMNT carried significant momentum into the Gold Cup following Freese's quarterfinal heroics against Costa Rica. However, they couldn't complete the task against a Mexico team many expected to struggle.

Instead, they lost their final competitive match before the World Cup 2–1, with many tournament-relied-upon players disappointing in crucial moments—including Diego Luna, Patrick Agyemang and Malik Tillman.

The outcome created more uncertainties than solutions, particularly following increased confidence in squad depth players throughout the competition.