“Do you feel pressure?” Tyler Adams asks teammate Weston McKennie. “I don’t feel pressure.”
Speaking before the USMNT’s first major tournament on home soil since 2016, McKennie echoes the sentiment of his captain. “I wouldn’t say it’s added pressure, I would say it’s added excitement. We spend our careers playing over in Europe and we come back [to the US] every once in a while with the national team. I think the World Cup and Copa América allow friends and family that maybe haven’t been able to see us play in a long time to watch us, and also fans who can’t get over to Europe to watch a game or to even introduce new people to the game.
“Ultimately, we want to build this sport right here in America and there’s no better way to do that than to bring the sport to America itself.”
This crop of USMNT players is billed as a ‘golden generation’, a moniker with an up-and-down history when it comes to national sides. But whereas so called golden generations in England, Germany, Portugal and Belgium had to deal with on-field pressure, this US group must also carry the burden of growing a sport in a country where soccer is not the main player.
The US will be a focus for international soccer in the coming years. First up, this summer’s Copa América. From there, it will host the 2025 Club World Cup, the 2026 World Cup (jointly with Canada and Mexico) and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The US and Mexico have also expressed interest in co-hosting the 2031 Women’s World Cup.
Building it is one thing. But will the people come? Attracting eyeballs isn’t only about presence. There needs to be success. The flame of soccer in the US has been periodically stoked, thanks largely to legendary players plying their trade on American soil – from Pelé and Beckenbauer to Beckham and Messi. The growth of Major League Soccer and the USWNT’s four World Cup titles have continued to spike interest, along with TV rights deals beaming the Premier League and Champions League into people’s homes. This year’s Copa is the latest chance for the men’s national team to hold up their end of the bargain before 2026. No pressure, right?
“I think there’s pressure no matter what,” Christian Pulisic says. “I don’t think necessarily playing it in the US is going to add any additional pressure. Of course we’re going to have our people here who are going to be watching, and hopefully we can put on some good soccer and inspire people. That’s our goal.”
Argentina are the favorites at this year’s Copa. Led by Lionel Messi, the reigning World Cup and Copa América champions are aiming for a record 16th title, which would break their tie with Uruguay. Despite long-running concerns with the Brazil squad, the five-time World Cup winners are another favorite to contend.
The US will play in Group C. They kick off against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on 23 June. Four days later, they will play Paraguay at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, before finishing the group against Uruguay, another tournament favorite, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 1 July.
“For me, we’re going to take it game by game for sure,” says Pulisic, who is coming off the best season of his club career for Milan in Serie A. “We want to get out of the group. That’s our first goal. Going from there, you go into the knockout rounds and the only way you can look at it is to focus on the team you’re playing and try to win each game.
“ … Looking at the first two games, and really just the first game, it’s about going out and getting a win. Putting on a good performance first and foremost is what we’re after and I think the results will take care of themselves. Absolutely, a good start is going to be key for us.”
It’s a similar mentality to the one the team adopted before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At that tournament, Gregg Berhalter named a roster featuring 25 World Cup debutants. The US eked out consecutive draws with Wales (1-1) and England (0-0) to set up a must-win game against Iran.
In the biggest moment of his young career, Pulisic scored his first World Cup goal, a game-winner that sealed second place in the group. In the last 16, the US faced the Netherlands, who were largely untroubled as they ended the Americans’ run.
It was a learning moment. After navigating their way through a group stage at their previous tournament, the US are focused on advancing through the knockout rounds.
“Obviously getting out of the group is the most important thing but winning a knockout game is super, super important,” Adams says. “I think it just shows an area of development that we really need to have in terms of if you want to talk about the 2026 World Cup and raising a trophy, you have to be able to win knockout games.
“No team wins a trophy without winning knockout games. That’s kind of where our heads are at. We believe we’re in the top four teams in Copa América when we’re at our best, but you can’t do that without proving you can win knockout games.”
Berhalter has come under sustained criticism throughout his time as head coach, from squad selections to tactical errors to fractures in the lockerrom. Success this summer can help quell some concerns, while disappointment could mean US Soccer is forced into an overhaul in the run up to 2026.
The US are one of six guest nations in the South American championship, and history foes not bode well for the Americans. No invitee outside South America has ever won Copa América. Since 2011, only two of 12 have ever reached the knockout rounds – the US and Mexico in 2016, the last time the tournament was held in the US. That year, the USMNT advanced to the tournament semi-finals before losing to runners up Argentina.
“Ultimate success for sure in this tournament is winning the whole thing and that’s something we’re striving for and that’s something we want to do,” McKennie said. “Soccer is such a beautiful sport that on any given day, anything can happen. It’s not like we’re so, so far behind the teams that may be more favored for this tournament.
“Ultimately, we’re all competitive as hell. We all want to win and we’re going in with the mindset of, ‘Look, we’re going for first place and if not, then what are we here for?’”
Michael LoRé 