By Alex Al-Kazzaz
There will be no attempt for a fourth straight CONCACAF Nations League triumph for the United States Men's National Team. The three-time defending champions suffered a shocking loss to Panama at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The team's first big assignment under the management of Mauricio Pochettino ends with an F.
This is not good for the USMNT. With the USMNT co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place next year, the team appears to have taken a massive step backward. Many refuse to take the Nations League seriously and don't see this loss as a big deal, but no, this is a big deal. Since 2023, Panama has had the USMNT's number. And Panama has a chance to claim the title later this week. Over the years, Panama has built a reputation for pulling off upset victories over the USMNT. So it's safe to say, the rivalry is alive and well.
An inability to score led to the USMNT's downfall against Panama. Panama saw that the US was getting increasingly frustrated, and they knew they'd have their chance at the right time. And it happened. In the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half. Panama's resiliency and solid defense proved vital to their victory. Discipline and concentration kept Panama well on pace. The same cannot be said for the USMNT.
Is the USMNT ready for next year's World Cup? No. Not at all. But thankfully, there's still time. But there's NO MORE time to waste. The USMNT needs to get its act together. Their performance against Panama was very weak.
Comments