The United States Men’s National Team are back in action tonight when they take on New Zealand in their final friendly of the September international window. The USMNT look to regroup after their 2-1 loss to Canada on Saturday. That loss was the third in a row for the team, and it was just their second home loss ever to Canada.
No new coach has been announced yet, despite the rumors that have swirled for over a month. The hope is that this team can respond tonight with energy against a Kiwi team that is also coming off a loss. TQL Stadium in Cincinnati will be the host, and this article will serve as your match thread for you to discuss the match as the action unfolds.
USA vs. New Zealand
Advertised Kick-off Time: 7:00pm Eastern, 4:00pm Pacific
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Available TV: TNT (English), Telemundo (Spanish), Universo (Spanish)
Available streaming: Max (English), Peacock (Spanish), Telemundo (Spanish), FuboTV (Free Trial)
I’m going with a loss to New Zealand tonight.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40999064/mauricio-pochettino-usa-men-head-coach-fifa-world-cup-2026
Mauricio Pochettino officially named USMNT coach through WC ’26.
Starting XI:
Matt Turner (GK)
Kristoffer Lund (LB)
Mark McKenzie (LCB)
Chris Richards (RCB)
Marlon Fossey (RB)
Haji Wright (LM)
Yunus Musah (LCM)
Aidan Morris (RCM)
Brenden Aaronson (RM)
Florian Balogun (LF)
Ricardo Pepi (RF)
Bench: Tim Ream, Patrick Schulte, Caleb Wiley, Malik Tilman, Johnny Cardoso, Christian Pulisic, Luca de la Torre, Cade Cowell, Ethan Horvath, Diego Kochen, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty
Pepi opens the scoring in the 19′.
it was called back for offside.
I’m not convinced
Neither am I.
Fossey did really well on the play for the disallowed goal
It’s a good thing this is a relatively low stakes friendly, and the play at times has reflected that, cuz this ref is not good
Imm actually gonna revise my statement, this isn’t relatively low stakes, I’ve never seen a more meaningless USMNT match
Might as well elaborate, the new regime hasn’t started yet, we’re playing with a largely backup squad against a sporting nation that produces rugby players and wool most prodigiously. No one will remember this except for the cognitive dissonance provided by pondering why the ref did some things
Fossey is a solid pro, but it’s alarming how much he’s outshining some players with just, you know, competitive spirit
He’s driving the attack it’s felt like tonight from the RB spot, sounds like Herrera.
I’m more worried about him catching the malaise from his teammates than him inspiring them
The Kiwis have a great chance on the counter breaking down our left flank and Turner comes up with a good save.
Pulisic on for Wright.
That was rough
Also Luca de la Torre came on for Musah at half.
Fossey continues to make professional movements off the ball. Embarrassing, didn’t he get the memo of the last four years?
The US with a great chance for Aaronson, but its saved.
Dammit, that should be a goal
Aaronson off for Tilman
Lund off for Wiley
Its in the net! Its in the net! Pulisic scores.
To be fair, it was a good play by a few players, but still very static that required Pulisic to finish from the angle
Christ, I wonder what Pochettino thinks of the lack of movement and runs. If he’s never seen this squad play before, it’s gotta be a shock. Obviously isn’t to the fans that have stuck it out
And Pulisic saves us face
…we have no face to save with how the team played in that loss to Canada.
It would not have reflected well if NZ held us goalless. It would have been an awkward embarrassment on top of a disgrace. Might have soured the day, as well
But I agree that there was nearly nothing and nobody excusable in that Canada game, Schulte standing on his head the exception
I think Fossey has played himself into contention for RB.
For sure. Again, I do hope that Poch can point to him as an example in the squad. For years, Berhalter’s instructions seemed to be a) push high and b) no sudden movements. There’s a ton of work to do
Cowell for Pepi
Cardoso for Morris
New Zealand levels on the counter…unfortunate deflection loops the clearance off a New Zealand player and into the net.
For me, that’s on Wiley, who I have never seen anything promising out of
8 mins of stoppage for the 2nd half
Yeah, I’m switching out, eventful night
The US should fall out of the top 20…hell the top 30…based on the last several performances…
It’s a Herculean task to reprogram these players to move and run.
Nonsense, a strict diet of Patagonian beef and Malbec will get them on board…..