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Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images
The United States men’s national team needs to bounce back with a win over New Zealand on Tuesday.
The USMNT suffered a rare defeat to regional rival Canada on Saturday as it awaits the official appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager.
Interim manager Mikey Varas will once again be in charge of the USMNT in Tuesday’s friendly, but the game could come off the heels of an official Pochettino announcement.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the game, the Americans just need to put together a better 90-minute performance to avoid another humiliating defeat.
USMNT vs. New Zealand Info
Date: Tuesday, September 10
The Americans face a far easier matchup on paper against New Zealand.
The Kiwis are the best team in a very weak Oceania and they are coming off a 3-0 friendly defeat against Mexico.
Christian Pulisic and the USMNT should end their three-game losing streak against the All Whites.
Even an expected win is not a given with how poorly the Americans played throughout the losing run.
The end of the Gregg Berhalter era was ugly and it was clear on Saturday that Canada is ahead of the Americans in preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
Pochettino’s impending arrival should help right the course of the USMNT, but even if he announced before Tuesday’s game, he will not have any influence on the game itself.
The attacking setup around Pulisic could change for Tuesday’s game. Brenden Aaronson, Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman started in the attack-minded positions on Saturday.
Haji Wright, Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi could push for playing time at striker in competition with Balogun.
Balogun has the best recent scoring track record for the USMNT, but the other three forward options have started well for their respective European teams.
Cade Cowell, who plays for Chivas in Liga MX, could be called upon for more dynamic playmaking alongside Pulisic in the final third.
Cowell, 20, is one of the many exciting young attackers who could help the USMNT’s depth in the final third in this World Cup cycle.
New Zealand’s biggest attacking threat is Chris Wood, who opened the English Premier League season with two goals in three games for Nottingham Forest.
Wood should provide a good test for Chris Richards, Tim Ream, or whomever starts at center-back for the USMNT, but the expectation is for the Americans to keep him under wraps and control the possession battle.
No matter who plays, the USMNT simply have to be better, and as long as it comes away with a win, it can take a positive step forward toward a new era.
Prediction: USMNT 2, New Zealand 0