USMNT makes the Gold Cup Quarterfinals after two wins in a row

The USMNT is taking its first steps to righting its ship this summer. They thrashed Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 last Sunday and won a hard-fought match against Saudi Arabia 1-0 last night to advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Quarterfinals. They did this all in the first two group stage matches, meaning they have one more match before the knockout rounds coming up this Sunday against Haiti.

Gold Cup, USMNT — Apr 14, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; The championship trophy at the CONCACAF Gold Cup Draw at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The USMNT qualified for the Knockout rounds of the 2025 Gold Cup

It’s no secret that this version of the USMNT is not the team we will see in a year at the World Cup. Many of the USA’s star players are out for this tournament, playing in the Club World Cup, or resting/rehabbing from injuries. However, the expectation for Poch and his men has not changed; the USA is looking to win the Gold Cup with a B/C Team as they have done in the past under different managers.

So far, so good. The USA has won its first two matches in the Gold Cup, toppling a very poor Trinidad & Tobago side 6-0 in their opening match. In that game, the USMNT was decisive and controlled the game from start to finish. Starters and substitutes got on the scoresheet and set the tone for the tournament.

Matchday two was a much stiffer test with guest nation Saudi Arabia. Pochettino played the same starting XI from the first game, and those players had to grind out a physical match. A Chris Richards strike from a Sebastian Berhalter free-kick broke the deadlock and won the game. The win secured a knockout round place for the USMNT, with one group match still to play.

The USA will face either Mexico or Costa Rica in the Quarterfinals

While the focus for the USMNT will be on the match against Haiti and winning Group D, we already know the two teams the USA could face. In Group A, Mexico and Costa Rica have already qualified for the quarterfinals. The US will play one of those two in their first knockout round match of this Gold Cup.

Both nations that the USA could play in the quarterfinals are formidable, but the difference is whether they play a good team or a hated rival. Mexico and Costa Rica play each other in the final matchday of Group A play to determine who will finish first or second in their group. At that point, the USMNT will have already played its last group match against Haiti, so it will be a wait-and-see type of night.

Mauricio Pochettino will have his USMNT ready for the Haiti game, and he likely won’t be looking ahead to the potential quarterfinal matchups. Winning the group is essential; the US has the quality to do so. It will be another great test for the young players on the roster, hungry to show they can be counted on as contributors with so few games before next summer’s home World Cup!