The Systemic Issues Plaguing the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup - The Blueprint to Fix it

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) finds itself in a state of confusion, disarray, and alarming lack of progress. With less than a year before the most important tournament in the nation’s soccer history—hosted on home soil—the USMNT continues to struggle with systemic issues that point to deeper problems within the U.S. Soccer Federation itself.

From coaching instability and inconsistent lineup selections to a failure of leadership at the top, the national team’s current trajectory is a major cause for concern. While there have been glimpses of talent and isolated positive results, the broader picture reveals a team that lacks identity, discipline, and cohesion—three critical elements needed to compete on the global stage.

A Team Without an Identity: Who Are the USMNT?

One of the most glaring weaknesses of the U.S. Men’s National Team is its lack of a clear footballing identity. The most successful international programs—Germany, Spain, Brazil, France—are rooted in defined playing philosophies. Germany is disciplined and efficient, Spain thrives on possession and technical dominance, Brazil is built on attacking flair, and France combines athleticism with tactical intelligence.

The USMNT, by contrast, has no such identity. Over the past three years, the team has shifted between possession-based approaches, high-pressing tactics, and defensive setups, but none have been executed with consistency or conviction. Players often appear uncertain about their roles, leading to disjointed performances against quality opposition. Without a shared philosophy, it is impossible to build the cohesion required to compete against the world’s elite.

A successful national team must establish a clear playing identity—a tactical philosophy that defines how the team attacks, defends, transitions, and adapts against world-class opponents. Unfortunately, the USMNT remains adrift.

• At times, the team looks like it wants to play possession-based soccer, but without the technical precision and movement required to execute it.
  

• Other times, the strategy shifts to a more direct, counter-attacking approach, which exposes defensive weaknesses and often leaves the midfield disconnected.
  

• Against top opponents, the U.S. too often reverts to a reactive, passive style, waiting for mistakes rather than trying to dictate the game.

This identity crisis is not just a tactical issue—it is cultural. Players appear uncertain of their roles, hesitant in their decision-making, and disconnected from the collective mission. Without a shared vision, the USMNT risks becoming a team of talented individuals but not a united force.

Cultural Buy-In: The Missing Element

For all the tactical and managerial shortcomings, perhaps the most concerning issue is cultural. Great teams succeed when players, coaches, and leadership buy into a shared identity.

• Spain (2008–2012) thrived on possession and collective technical mastery.
  

• Germany (2014) built around discipline, tactics, and machine-like efficiency.
  

• Argentina (2022) rallied around Lionel Messi but established unity through collective sacrifice and belief.

The USMNT has yet to establish such a cultural anchor. Without it, even the best individual talents will struggle to perform as a unit.

Inconsistent Lineup Selection: The Endless Experiment

Since the start of 2025, the USMNT has used more than a dozen different starting lineups in fewer than 15 matches. That number alone is concerning. While rotation is normal in friendlies and preparation phases, the inability to establish a consistent starting XI signals deeper instability.

• Key attacking players like Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and Ricardo Pepi have rotated in and out without consistent partnerships.
  

• Midfield balance has been in constant flux, with Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Tyler Adams rarely starting together due to tactical experiments or injury management.
  

• Defensive structures remain unsettled, with multiple center back pairings tested and no clear first-choice goalkeeper.
  

This constant shuffling prevents chemistry from forming. Elite national teams rely on familiarity—players knowing each other’s tendencies instinctively. For the USMNT, every match feels like a new trial, rather than a step forward in building cohesion.

Here’s a bar chart of USMNT starting lineup changes from March through September 2025 across 12 matches. It illustrates how frequently the lineup has shifted, making it difficult for the team to build consistency.

The Coaching Question: Pochettino’s Struggles

When Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as head coach, there was cautious optimism. His résumé—Premier League experience with Tottenham, Champions League pedigree, and man-management skills—suggested he could instill structure and belief. Yet, almost a year into his tenure, results and performances tell another story. Across these matches, the USMNT has too often been second-best in possession, chance creation, and tactical execution. The team’s win percentage against FIFA top-30 opponents under Pochettino sits well below expectations for a program preparing to host the world’s biggest tournament.

• Home defeats to Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Turkiye, and South Korea highlight the team’s struggles against World Cup-caliber opposition.
  

• The much-discussed “encouraging result” against Japan came with an asterisk: it was not Japan’s best starting XI, and the U.S. still looked second-best in terms of tempo, pressing, and sharpness.
  

• Pochettino’s in-game adjustments have been reactive rather than proactive, raising concerns about his adaptability at the international level.

Most alarmingly, the players do not appear to have fully bought into Pochettino’s message. There is little evidence of a collective tactical buy-in, and without player trust, even the best coaches cannot succeed.

Players Not Buying Into the Messaging

Another critical issue is cultural buy-in. Successful national teams build unity not just through tactics but through shared values and belief in the project. Unfortunately, U.S. players have not consistently bought into Pochettino’s messaging, whether from a cultural or tactical standpoint.

Body language on the pitch has frequently looked flat. Leaders within the squad—Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams—have at times shown frustration with the lack of cohesion. Younger players appear unsure of their place in the system. Without collective belief, even the most talented rosters cannot deliver results.

Leadership Accountability: Where is U.S. Soccer’s Direction?

While much of the criticism is rightly aimed at coaching and player performance, the systemic issues run deeper. Leadership at the top of U.S. Soccer must share responsibility.

• Cindy Cone (President of U.S. Soccer) has overseen this critical World Cup build-up, but the program lacks the stability and clarity needed.
  

• JT Batson (CEO and Secretary General) has failed to project confidence or establish a roadmap that ensures alignment across the federation.
  

• Matt Crocker (Sporting Director) bears particular responsibility for the so far “failed experiment” of appointing Pochettino and overseeing the lack of continuity in the men’s program.

Accountability must rest with this leadership group. They chose the path of bringing in Pochettino, they set the benchmarks, and they must answer for the lack of progress with the World Cup less than a year away.

The Statistical Reality: Falling Short Against the Best

Performance analysis reveals troubling patterns:

• Against Mexico and Canada, the U.S. has struggled to control midfield battles and lost critical duels in transition.
  

• Against Switzerland and Turkiye, defensive lapses and poor marking have led to avoidable goals.
  

• Against South Korea, the U.S. was outpaced and outworked in key phases of play, raising questions about commitment and intensity.
  

The few encouraging results have come against teams not fielding their best squads, suggesting the U.S. is not yet prepared to compete against full-strength elite opposition.

What Needs to Change Immediately

1. Establish a Clear Playing Identity
   The USMNT must define who they are on the pitch. Whether it’s high pressing, possession-based play, or counterattacking football, the players must have clarity and consistency.
   

2. Solidify a Core XI
   Experimentation time is over. The coaching staff needs to identify a backbone of 6–7 untouchable starters and build chemistry around them.
   

3. Reinforce Player Buy-In
   Leadership groups within the squad must be empowered. Cultural alignment workshops, leadership development, and communication improvements are vital to unify the locker room.
   

4. Hold Leadership Accountable
   Cindy Parlow Cone, JT Batson, and Matt Crocker must step forward publicly with a transparent plan. Fans and players need confidence that the federation is steering the program in the right direction.
   

5. Improve Results Against Quality Opposition
   With upcoming friendlies and tune-up matches, the U.S. must measure itself against top-tier competition and show progress. Excuses will not suffice in 2026.

Conclusion: Time is Running Out

The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the United States Men’s National Soccer Team—a chance to showcase progress, inspire a new generation, and compete on the grandest stage. Yet, as of September 2025, the team looks unprepared, unsettled, and uninspired.

Unless leadership takes immediate action, the USMNT risks not only disappointing results but also wasting the momentum of hosting the world’s most important tournament. Identity, consistency, and cultural buy-in must be established now—or the narrative of American soccer will be one of missed opportunity rather than historic triumph.