Time To Panic?

The first two of four games the United States Men’s National Team are playing before the announcement of the 2026 World Cup roster have not gone to plan. With a 5-2 loss to Belgium, and a 2-0 loss to Portugal, fans are wondering if it’s time to start panicking.

In the first games against Belgium, the team struggled to find a rhythm and did not play to the best of their ability. The team’s performance left many scratching their heads, including experts who covered the game.

“The USMNT became porous as the second half began, small mistakes proving costly against Belgium’s eager attackers,” said Pardeep Cattry in an article written for CBS Sports.

A Formation Change

The starting eleven for Mauricio Pochettino, the manager for the United States, wasn’t anything crazy, but he did change the formation from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-3-3, which historically hasn’t gone well for the United States. The 2-0 loss to Portugal was the same and one thing you can clearly see in the difference between the USMNT and these top teams is they don’t need multiple chances to score; they can and will score on one shot. The coach received some backlash from legend Clint Dempsey.

“If I’m one of those forwards, I’m going to be mad,” said Dempsey. “They’ve been performing really well, and they’re chomping at the bit to get on and to do more for the national team.”

The Road Ahead

While some fans think it may be time to panic, there are some positives.. After these two bad results it gives the USMNT a clear view of what they need prior to the World Cup. To be the “dark horse” they need to have tighter defense that’s what all national teams who make a deep run have. Fans should look forward to this upcoming World Cup and tune in and watch this American team!