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The U.S. men's national team is looking impressive. That much is undeniable, and four consecutive victories serve as proof.
That said, both things can coexist. The USMNT can be genuinely strong in the post-2026 World Cup era while still carrying a number of notable flaws.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt pleased with how the Stars and Stripes performed in their first gathering since the summer tournament; however, he's left with just as many unanswered questions as he had after the team was shockingly dismantled by Belgium in the round of 16.
Several uncertainties surround individual American players, including the future role of former captain Christian Pulisic and one-time regular Tim Weah. Beyond that, Pochettino faces broader team-wide and positional dilemmas that still need resolving.
Here are three major questions Pochettino has yet to answer. Fortunately, he has four years to figure them out.
Who Belongs Between the Posts?
Pochettino envisions transforming the USMNT into one of the "most powerful" international sides in world soccer — a team capable of consistently competing for regional titles and making deep World Cup runs.
That vision will never come to fruition without an elite goalkeeper. A top-tier shot-stopper doesn't just make the difference against quality opposition — it shapes the entire mentality of a squad. When a team has complete trust in its last line of defense, players feel free to take risks and find their rhythm.
The Stars and Stripes haven't had a world-class goalkeeper with sustained longevity in nearly a decade, dating back to Tim Howard's retirement in 2017. The Premier League icon and two-time World Cup starter (2010, 2014) recorded 42 clean sheets across 121 international appearances — nearly 35% of his caps.
By comparison, 2026 World Cup starter Matt Freese has just five clean sheets in 19 caps (26%) — a step below Howard's numbers and a concerning lack of experience for someone handed the keys at soccer's grandest stage. His limitations were most glaring in the round of 16 defeat, when a botched clearance gifted Belgium its third goal of the evening and effectively sealed the result.
Pochettino's confidence in Freese has been inconsistent, though he did include him in the fall call-up. Freese featured for just 45 minutes against Peru in a quiet outing that yielded only a single save.
The rest of the goalkeeper pool offers little encouragement either. World Cup third-choice Chris Brady and newcomers Brian Schwake and Diego Kochen all failed to impress. Admittedly, none of them faced significant pressure. Still, there were no flashes of elite-level play. At best, they were adequate — and adequate won't be enough to build the global powerhouse Pochettino has in mind.
Who Belongs on the Backline?
Thank goodness for Chris Richards.
The experienced defender has been a fixture at the heart of the backline since early 2025, standing out with his pinpoint distribution, aerial dominance, one-on-one defending, and above all, his composure. He brings a calm authority to the entire defensive unit that can spark dangerous attacking sequences.
He can't carry the load alone, though. With 39-year-old Tim Ream's recent international retirement, the need for a capable partner has become more pressing than ever — yet no clear candidate has stepped forward.
Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty remain on the fringes. Trusty did show some promise alongside Richards when called upon this fall. Miles Robinson is another option, though the more he plays at international level, the less convincing he appears for the role.
Pochettino will likely be keeping a close eye on Neil Pierre, who has anchored the Philadelphia Union's defense since their MLS resurgence this summer. However, the 6'7" teenager struggled during his debut camp this fall, showing he still has considerable development ahead before entering the starting lineup discussion. He made one start in the win over Chile but repeatedly gave possession away, inviting unnecessary counter-attacks from the South Americans. Pochettino ultimately lost faith in him, giving him no minutes against Mexico and just 16 against Canada.
What Is the Team's New Identity?
The gap between the USMNT's finest moments at this summer's World Cup and the collapse against Belgium can largely be traced back to one thing: team identity.
At their best, the USMNT played with a relentless intensity that translated into a high-press, attack-minded approach. From the first whistle, the Americans pressed their opponents relentlessly, dictating the tempo and leaving little room to breathe. In all three group stage matches, they found the net within the opening 11 minutes.
That strong identity blended classic American tenacity with a distinctly South American competitive edge — the latter of which Argentine manager Pochettino has been working to instill since taking charge in 2024. It was reinforced by a sense of unity the team hadn't experienced in years.
"The chemistry of the team, it's like a family bond we have at the moment, and that's really good to have," USMNT and World Cup standout winger Sergiño Dest told Sports Illustrated last month in an exclusive interview. "Even in club football, it's difficult to have that chemistry that we have with the national team, so that's really important."
At their worst, the USMNT showed none of that spirited identity. From the opening kickoff against Belgium, the players looked a step slow and mentally absent — a fog hanging over the squad that has since been linked to the controversy surrounding striker Folarin Balogun.
Still, the team managed to recapture some of that identity this fall, and it's something Pochettino will continue to develop and sharpen over the next four years.
"We played four games over two weeks and always with the same intensity, with the same commitment, with the same passion," Pochettino said following the victory over Canada. "That is a thing we need to keep. Of course, it is not easy, but that is why we need to give the credit to the players."