Welcome to the start of another week in the world of soccer. Despite being in the middle of summer, the football calendar remains busy with the Women`s Euro, Club World Cup, a heating up transfer window, and a recent USMNT loss in the Gold Cup final. Let`s dive in!
USMNT Outplayed by Mexico in Gold Cup Final
The next competitive match for the U.S. men`s national team is set for June 12, 2026, kicking off their home World Cup campaign at SoFi Stadium. Eight years in the making, that moment is approaching fast. It would have been preferable to conclude the current cycle of meaningful games on a positive note, but that wasn`t the case. Despite a promising start with Chris Richards scoring in the fourth minute, the U.S. ultimately lost 2-1 to Mexico.
This victory allowed Mexico to add the Gold Cup to their Nations League title, re-establishing their dominance in the CONCACAF region this year. Coach Mauricio Pochettino had little reason to dispute the outcome; the U.S. managed only six shots compared to Mexico`s sixteen in Houston. Pochettino did express frustration over a potential penalty not awarded in the 67th minute when Jorge Sanchez appeared to handle the ball, but even with that call, the U.S. didn`t perform well enough to secure a win.
After Raul Jimenez equalized, Mexico took control at NRG Stadium, outshooting the USMNT 12-5, completing 65 more passes in the opposition half (96 vs 31), and having significantly more penalty box touches (34 vs 14). Edson Alvarez`s winning goal in the 77th minute felt inevitable given the flow of the game. A penalty call would have been extremely lucky to alter the match`s trajectory. As Charlie Davies observed, this wasn`t a performance indicative of a winning U.S. team:
Overall, this was a terrible performance. This was difficult to watch. They brought the fight, they got the early goal, we`re all hyped but they weren`t connecting passes after that. Mexico woke up, they started keeping possession. Any time we did win the ball, we gave it right back. Sloppy passes, miscalculated passes, long balls when they should be short, short when they should be long. Ultimately, that was not a great game to watch.
A significant factor to consider, as has been noted throughout the summer, is that this USMNT squad was far from their full-strength team. Key players like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Folarin Balogun were absent. In this context, Pochettino`s main objective was likely evaluating the depth of his talent pool. This summer has provided insights into players who could significantly contribute in 2026. Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, and Matt Freese, for instance, showed enough promise before Sunday to suggest they might be in the starting lineup at SoFi Stadium.
While the defeat to a major rival tempered enthusiasm, there`s still momentum to build upon ahead of matches against South Korea and Japan in September. As Pardeep Cattry pointed out, areas needing improvement in the team`s structure have become clearer.
The USMNT managed to complete a redemption arc of sorts at the Gold Cup, complicated as it may be. Pessimism is no longer the prevailing sentiment but the onus is still on Pochettino and company to get the balance right …The fact that the USMNT exit the Gold Cup with several standouts may not have answered the question of if they can live up to the hype next year, but it likely gives this group a better chance to actually realize their potential – even if tempering expectations may still be required.
Moving forward, the U.S. would ideally benefit from more time and competitive matches. However, as a World Cup host, they automatically qualify, meaning the recent competitive games have concluded on a somewhat disappointing note. The value of this summer`s experience will hopefully outweigh the lack of silverware.
Women`s Euro: Can Anyone Challenge Spain?
There`s nothing quite like a 16-team summer international tournament, offering fast-paced action unlike the often drawn-out group stages of larger World Cups. The European Championships this summer are moving quickly, having only started recently. Norway became the first team to reach the knockout stages after beating Finland 2-1 and seeing Switzerland eliminate Iceland.
Spain is likely to join them soon. After a dominant 5-0 win over Portugal, they are strong favorites against Belgium in Thun. The world champions have been in devastating form, winning six straight games. They could become even stronger if Ballon d`Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who has recovered from viral meningitis, returns to the starting eleven. Despite their impressive start, Spain isn`t showing complacency, according to Olga Carmona.
We have to keep our feet on the ground despite the great result the other day. We can`t make the mistake of being overconfident. We know Belgium are a great team, we`ve played against them a lot and we know they`re going to make it very difficult for us, so we have to stay very alert, go out there giving 100%, and we want to win.
What about Spain`s potential rivals? Germany started strongly and will aim to adjust to playing without injured captain Giulia Gwinn (serious knee injury) in their upcoming game against Denmark. Meanwhile, Saturday`s significant match between France and England saw France win 2-1, leaving England facing a tough challenge against the Netherlands to qualify for the quarterfinals. Sandy Baltimore and Elisa de Almeida were standout players for France.
France, under Laurent Bonadei, could emerge as a dark horse on the other side of the bracket, but Spain remains the team to beat, and by a considerable margin, entering this week.
