USA preview and roster

There have only been three editions of the Concacaf Nations Leagues and the USA has won every won. Under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, nothing less than a fourth title will be acceptable.

The USA qualified from the quarter finals with a 1-0 win over Jamaica away from home, followed up by a 4-2 win at home.

In 2020 in Denver and in 2024 in Dallas, the USA beat Mexico in the final. In Denver they only won after extra time and a Christian Pulisic goal. In 2023 in Las Vegas they beat Mexico in the semi-final in a game fraught with emotion and no little aggression.

What to expect

The USA, ranked 16^th in the world, open their search for a four-peat title win against Panama, currently ranked 36^th. However, the Red Tide have won two of the last three encounters, although they did lose to the Americans in October, by a 2-0 scoreline in Austin, Texas.

Thursday will be the 29^th all-time meeting between the two countries, and incredibly the 28^th since 2004. The US holds a dominating advantage W18, D7 & L3.

Having performed abjectly at the home-hosted Copa America in 2024 where they lost to Panama and Uruguay, the US  team has taken shape under their new manager who has won eight of the nine friendlies he has played since taking charge. The one loss was against Mexico last October.

This year the US have beaten Venezuela 3-1 and Costa Rica 3-0 in friendlies.

Players to watch

The inclusion of Borussia Dortmund’s, Gio Reyna, who is not having his best season in Germany, was perhaps the surprise choice in Pochettino’s squad. But the player of the tournament from the Nations League in 2024 clearly has the ability to be a game winner.

Pochettino said that his inclusion was partially due to the fact that Dortmund is participating in the Club World Cup, and that Dortmund retain the rights to their player despite the competition going up against Concacaf’s Gold Cup.
US captain at the 2022 World Cup, Tyler Adams also returns to the team after an excellent season to-date with AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Pochettino has also silenced the doubters that MLS players were not on his radar by including personnel who impressed during the team’s annual January camp and friendly wins against Venezuela and Costa Rica. Most notable among the January camp holdovers are Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White, Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang, and Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna.

Defensively there are rumours that Pochettino will play a back three. The candidates for the starting role are Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), and Antonee Robinson (Fulham) who has had an outstanding season for the Cottagers. There is a Scottish theme in the duo of Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) and Auston Trusty (Celtic), while Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liège), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), look like they’ll be along for the experience.

In midfield the Argentine has selected, Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon). Luna is the interesting MLS selection.

In the forward department, all eyes will be on ‘Captain America’ Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) who has taken to Serie A like a duck to water. He’ll be joined by his Milan teammate, Yunus Musah and fellow Serie A compatriot, Timothy Weah at Juventus. They have been a standout trio in recent years for the US.

Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Josh Sargent (Norwich City) and Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps) will need to find goals in the absence of Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi.

The manager

This semifinal match-up pits two coaches who have locked horns on the field of play in Spain’s La Liga on multiple occasions. USMNT top man, Mauricio Pochettino was a hard-nosed center-back at Espanyol.

Pochettino is still wet behind the eyes when it comes to international management and the game against Panama will be just his ninth game overseeing the Stars and Stripes.

The Argentine does have a more impressive resume when it comes to club football having been at Southampton, Chelsea, and most successfully at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League as well as stints with Espanyol and French giants, Paris Saint Germain.

The big question that always hangs over Pochettino is whether he is good enough to win make his team win titles. He has shown he can create competitive teams but his management CV is very short on winning silverware considering the teams he has managed.

The Nations League is a first chance to put a pin in that criticism. Anything less will open even more US soul searching in the year before they host World Cup 2026 where a strong and competitive US team is required to build the game domestically.

USA squad