Thirty-two years ago, not a lot was expected of the USMNT going into its first experience of being a host of the FIFA World Cup. The 1994 tournament is looked back on as a watershed moment for men’s soccer in this country, with that team exceeding many people’s expectations by progressing from the group stage and only narrowly losing out to eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16.
The USMNT has qualified for every World Cup finals since, apart from one, and is now expected to do well. American fans have fully gotten behind their team this summer, and the tournament can be considered an unqualified success for men’s soccer in this country. Media coverage has been greater than ever before, and millions of fans have used the best sports betting apps to back the USMNT.
With the World Cup coming to an end, we must now look to the future, and many new fans will be wondering what comes next for the USMNT. There will be many questions about coaches and players, but there is a schedule for the rest of the year – and beyond – that is already set in place. Here’s what comes next for the USMNT and how confident you should be in betting on the team.
Head Coach Questions
Before the World Cup began, it might have been more difficult to confidently predict how the USMNT would do afterwards, as there was so much uncertainty about who the head coach would be. Mauricio Pochettino had overseen a largely unimpressive one-and-a-half-year stint in which the team had arguably underperformed.
There had apparently been conversations with both Milan and Real Madrid about his future employment, and a poor World Cup may have made his decision easier to make. But now he has become a well-loved leader, with strong ties to the players and supported by the fans. Backing the USMNT to do well is easier when you know who will be calling the shots.
Nations League
After the excitement and drama of the World Cup, it might feel like a step down for some USMNT fans, but the next test will be the CONCACAF Nations League. This has been a successful competition for the Americans in the past, but the most recent tournament began a worrying time for the team.
As one of the highest ranked nations in the region, the US automatically qualified for the quarterfinals, but then a loss to Panama resulted in a third/fourth place playoff against Canada. The US famously also lost that in front of its own fans in Los Angeles. But the team seems so much stronger now, even in such a short period of time, and it can legitimately count itself as the favorite to win the Nations League Finals next year.
Gold Cup 2027
Although the final qualification process has not been finalized as yet, the USMNT’s Nations League performance will then determine its participation in the Gold Cup, which may well also be held in the US. The tournament is scheduled for June and July of next year and gives the USMNT a chance to reclaim local bragging rights in the region.
The way the entire squad has come together during this World Cup finals suggests that we may well see another period of US dominance, in CONCACAF at least. The USMNT has not won the Gold Cup since 2021 and will also be facing guest teams, such as Saudi Arabia and potentially New Zealand, but it looks to be a good bet for this tournament.
Future Tournaments
As we have seen from this summer’s World Cup finals, the global game is forever changing, and there are always new teams that enjoy periods of success. But the upward trajectory for the USMNT looks set to continue. After finally reaching parity with Mexico, the US, alongside Canada, will strengthen the competitiveness of CONCACAF.
After the next Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments finish, it is thought that the US could find itself as a finals host again, this time for the Copa America. Traditionally a South American international competition, the Copa America has invited other nations for a while now, with the US already competing in five and hosting two tournaments.
Playing against the traditional powerhouses of Brazil and Argentina would certainly test the USMNT further than the CONCACAF competitions. But if there is progress made in the next few years, it is with the might of the South American teams that the US should be comparing itself with.
Number One Team
To be confident in backing the USMNT in any of the competitions and tournaments in the next few years, the current goodwill surrounding the team – and performance levels on the field of play – need to continue. It has previously been the atmosphere and environment surrounding the national team that has ruined its chances of doing well, but Pochettino seems to have eradicated the negativity.
The Argentinian could now be key to the USMNT’s future success. He has grown a bond with the current set up and might want to be involved with the buildup to the next tournaments on the calendar, as well as preparation for the 2028 Cop a America and even the 2030 World Cup. It should also be noted that there is an Olympic Games being held in the US in 2028 as well, with nations being represented by their U23 teams. Being able to work with the next generation of USMNT stars could be something that Pochettino finds very attractive.
Even with Mexico’s traditional regional dominance and the improvement of Canada’s football team, there is no reason why the USMNT should not be the number one team in CONCACAF. It is already one of the most-fancied teams for most regional competitions, but could soon be the outright number one.
