In heartbreaking fashion, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) fell short against Uruguay 0-1 to advance to the knockout stage of Copa America. For the first time in its history, the USMNT has been eliminated from the group stage of a senior men’s tournament it hosted.
After a disappointing loss, many questions arise about the future, including the 2026 World Cup and the status of manager Gregg Berhalter.
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What Went Wrong For the U.S. Against Uruguay in Copa America?
Both teams were scoreless at the end of the first half, with the game’s physicality taking a front seat. The U.S. lost striker Folarin Balogun to injury, while Uruguay lost winger Maximiliano Araújo when he was stretchered off after seeming briefly unconscious.
Uruguay was more aggressive in the second half, and Mathías Olivera scored a controversial goal at the 66-minute mark that ultimately won the game. It appeared that Uruguay was offside when Olivera tapped the ball into the net, but the goal was confirmed by video review. After matching Uruguay’s intensity for most of the match, the USMNT’s inability to score cost them the game.
The game was also marred by questionable refereeing, which hurt the USMNT. Official Kevin Ortega whistled for a foul on the U.S. and pulled out a yellow card to stop play. However, while still holding the card, he allowed the game to continue, and Uruguay nearly scored a goal.
Another instance was when the U.S. had an obvious advantage after a handball on Uruguay. Still, the referee eventually blew his whistle and called the play back for a free kick.
After the match, Christian Pulisic went to shake Ortega’s hand, but the official refused to do so.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 World Cup
The USMNT’s 2-1 loss against Panama put itself in a very unfavorable position going into its game against Uruguay. The squad’s future in the tournament was in the hands of other teams, a place no one ever wants to be.
If the U.S. had beaten Panama, a game it was heavily favored to win, it most likely would have made the knockout rounds. A crucial factor in the loss was Tim Weah picking up a red card in the 18th minute of the game.
The Copa America was an opportunity to fine-tune strategies and improve team cohesion on a big stage. Early elimination means less time to experiment with line-ups, formations, and tactics against strong competition, leaving unresolved issues that could resurface in the World Cup.
Furthermore, the USMNT hoped the Copa America would help it build momentum for the World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This tournament was supposed to help the U.S. gain confidence in its ability to hang with the best teams in the world.
However, the USMNT is leaving Copa America with questions about its future and little to show it can compete with the best teams in international soccer.
What is Manager Gregg Berhalter’s Future With the Team?
After a highly disappointing Copa America display, there is immense pressure for U.S. soccer to part ways with Berhalter. After losing to Uruguay, the USMNT has a record of 0-5-5 against top-15 FIFA-ranked teams, not including Mexico. If the U.S. has big aspirations for the World Cup, which will be hosted on its home turf, a change in leadership may be necessary.
While not living up to the expectations the USMNT had, Berhalter still believes he is the right man for the job. When asked after the game if he’s the right person to lead this roster, Berhalter replied with a straightforward “yes.”
However, fans had other opinions on what U.S. soccer should do with Berhalter.
U.S. Soccer released the following statement after the loss to Uruguay: “Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We must do better. We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa America and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup.”
For now, Berhalter remains in the hot seat ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
