SOCCER · 1 year ago

5 Takeaways from the USMNT’s Group Stage Exit at Copa America

David Connelly

Host · Writer

Take Something From The Experience
Now that it's behind them, the most important thing the Americans must do is to learn something from the experience. Many lessons were learned across the three matches, and disappointment like this can provide a learning experience from now on. The 2026 World Cup is 23 months away, and the team can only control what's in front of them. Move forward, dominate the upcoming friendlies, and take home another Gold Cup next summer to set the stage for the world's biggest tournament.
Gregg Berhalter Is Not the Answer at Manager
It's been said by the media ad nauseam over the past five years, but this tournament has proven to most US fans that the team must move on from Gregg Berhalter as the team's manager. While the players have come to his defense many times, the team lacks the results against high-end inter-federation opponents under his tenure. Their best win under his eye in a non-friendly setting came against Iran at the 2022 World Cup, which was ranked 24th in the FIFA World Rankings then. While the United States has dominated Mexico in recent years, it's clear that they are at one of their lowest points in the nation's rich soccer history.
Tim Weah Should Shoulder Some Blame
While Berhalter is being berated in the public eye for the poor showing at Copa America, Tim Weah must shoulder some blame for his red card against Panama. It is the most direct thing you can point to as to why the US failed to reach the knockout stage, and it completely changed the course of their match against the Panamanians. The lack of composure to outwardly hit a player early in a pivotal game is unacceptable, and hopefully, he carries and learns from moving forward.
The US Squandered Its Best Chance at True World Cup Preparation
Our next three friendlies are against Canada, New Zealand, and Panama. While Canada and Panama found a way to advance at Copa America, that is a far cry from the level of competition the United States could have seen in the Copa America knockout stages. The federation saw this competition as a golden opportunity to prepare the squad for the rapidly approaching 2026 World Cup on US soil, and that chance was disastrously thrown away.
The Squad Isn't Good Enough for Top-Tier Competition
As the United States crept up near the top ten in the FIFA World Rankings, it had many wondering if this team was capable of competing with top-tier competition internationally and perhaps making its deepest run in history on the men's side at the 2026 World Cup. The team is over its head against the best teams in the world, proven against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup and now against Uruguay, a match where they never looked back.
Take Something From The Experience
Now that it's behind them, the most important thing the Americans must do is to learn something from the experience. Many lessons were learned across the three matches, and disappointment like this can provide a learning experience from now on. The 2026 World Cup is 23 months away, and the team can only control what's in front of them. Move forward, dominate the upcoming friendlies, and take home another Gold Cup next summer to set the stage for the world's biggest tournament.
Gregg Berhalter Is Not the Answer at Manager
It's been said by the media ad nauseam over the past five years, but this tournament has proven to most US fans that the team must move on from Gregg Berhalter as the team's manager. While the players have come to his defense many times, the team lacks the results against high-end inter-federation opponents under his tenure. Their best win under his eye in a non-friendly setting came against Iran at the 2022 World Cup, which was ranked 24th in the FIFA World Rankings then. While the United States has dominated Mexico in recent years, it's clear that they are at one of their lowest points in the nation's rich soccer history.

5 Takeaways from the USMNT’s Group Stage Exit at Copa America

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