The U.S. men’s national team is starting to show signs of Pochettino’s coaching — structured when in possession, tight when out of it. But the recent Nations League games showed two big problems haven’t gone away. Against Panama, the team lacked energy and creativity in the final third. That problem continued against a more possession-heavy Canada. With the 2025 Gold Cup coming soon and the World Cup less than a year away, two big questions remain: who scores, and who saves?
Data Source: Sofascore (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper Focus: No. 1 Shirt Still Unsettled
In modern football, having a trusted and commanding goalkeeper is crucial — currently, the USMNT hasn’t figured out who that is. Matt Turner has the most experience and started all six competitive matches under Pochettino. But he hasn’t played a minute of Premier League football this season and only appeared in a few cup matches. That lack of game time showed when he was caught out of position on Panama’s only shot on target in a 1–0 loss.
Pochettino has stood by Turner, possibly hoping he can find his form again. But others are pushing forward. Zack Steffen played nearly 3,000 minutes for Colorado and won Best Goalkeeper at the Leagues Cup. Patrick Schulte had the highest save percentage in MLS and led Columbus to a continental final. Both are younger, sharp, and ready. Each has played one friendly under Pochettino — not enough to win the job, but enough to stay in the mix.
Turner still has strong moments, including a penalty save in a 1–0 win against Jamaica. But his passing under pressure has come under scrutiny — especially in a system that relies on building from the back. With two straight tournaments marked by soft goals and no clear standout, Pochettino has to decide: stick with Turner, or turn to someone in form?
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Striker Focus: Who Leads the Line?
If choosing a goalkeeper is about trust, picking a striker is about belief. Right now, Pochettino still doesn’t know who he can count on to finish chances.
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Agyemang, and Christian Pulisic have all played up top, but no one has claimed the starting spot.
Pepi has come closest. He scored 18 goals and had 3 assists in just 1,143 minutes for PSV — one of the best goal rates in Europe. However. he was second choice to 34-year-old Luuk de Jong for the most part, and has also struggled with injuries that kept him out of recent USMNT matches. It’s a small sample, and players often need time to bounce back after injury.
Balogun is a forward who relies on pace, technique, and his two-footed ability to get into dangerous areas. He was tipped to have a breakout season and lead the line for the USMNT, but he has struggled to make an impact and spent significant time sidelined with injury. He managed just three goals from 11 Ligue 1 appearances for AS Monaco, and fitness issues has kept him from establishing a role under Pochettino so far.
Josh Sargent is having a career-best season for Norwich City with 15 goals, 5 assists, and strong link-up play. He ranks in the 96th percentile for pass completion among forwards and the 86th percentile for assists per 90. However, he ranks only in the 43rd percentile for shot volume and is below average in touches inside the box and progressive passes received — signs that he’s not consistently getting into scoring areas. That may explain why his club form hasn’t translated into goals for the USMNT.
Then there’s Christian Pulisic. At AC Milan, he’s having his best season — 15 goals, 9 assists, and solid creative output. But he benefits from a system where he plays off a true striker and fullbacks push high. It’s unclear if he can score as consistently while playing as the main striker for the U.S.
Each striker brings something different — Pepi’s finishing, Sargent’s physicality, Balogun’s movement. The one Pochettino chooses will reflect what kind of striker he values. That variety is a good problem to have — unless roles stay undefined. The Gold Cup could be the turning point.
If Pulisic stays the most in-form attacker, the big question is: Should he be the one leading the line?
No. 9 is still up for grabs. The problem is, no one has taken it.
Conclusion
Mauricio Pochettino has time — but not much. The Gold Cup will be the final test before 2026. If the U.S. can’t figure out who to trust in goal and who they can rely on to finish chances, it won’t matter how much talent they have elsewhere.
