ST. PAUL, Minn. — Three matches, three wins and one final test remain for the United States Men’s National Team as Mauricio Pochettino’s squad prepares to face Canada Tuesday night at Allianz Field.
Coming off a statement 3-0 victory over Mexico, the USMNT enters the finale of its extended fall window with an opportunity to finish a perfect 4-0-0. But after nearly three weeks together and four matches in 11 days, Pochettino’s focus extends beyond simply adding another victory.
The U.S. coach has used the camp to begin shaping the next generation of the national team.
“It’s a good opportunity for continuous growing in that camp,” Pochettino said Monday while acknowledging the physical demands placed on his players.
The United States has already defeated Peru, Chile and Mexico during the window, scoring at least three goals in each match. Against Mexico, teenagers Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan continued the youth movement, with Sullivan becoming the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history.
Now comes a different challenge.
Canada enters Tuesday’s match unbeaten since the World Cup and has yet to concede during the current window. Under American head coach Jesse Marsch, Canada remains an aggressive, high-energy opponent built around pressure and quick transitions.
Sebastian Berhalter knows that style particularly well.
The former Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder described Canada as “high-energy, very high-pressing, very athletic,” while acknowledging that his familiarity with many Canadian players adds another dimension to Tuesday’s matchup.
“It’s a bigger game,” Berhalter said. “We know a lot of their guys very well. For me, personally, too, it’s an exciting game.”
Berhalter has increasingly become an important figure within Pochettino’s squad. With 21 international appearances entering the Canada match, the 25-year-old now occupies an interesting position between the team’s established veterans and a wave of players experiencing their first national-team camps.
That relationship between generations has been one of Pochettino’s biggest takeaways from the extended window.
The USMNT called 13 first-time camp participants into the squad, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate depth while veterans such as Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson and Berhalter help establish expectations for the newcomers.
Pochettino praised the younger players for listening and learning while emphasizing the importance of building chemistry between the two groups.
“That is one of the most important things that happened in this window,” Pochettino said.
Tuesday also presents the United States with an opportunity to reverse a recent trend against its northern rival.
The USMNT has not defeated Canada since the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Final, and Canada has won three of the last five meetings between the nations.
Pochettino, however, isn’t interested in carrying old results into a new cycle.
“Every single game is different,” he said. “We cannot connect the last game with the next one.”
After victories over Peru, Chile and Mexico, defeating Canada would provide a fitting conclusion to a camp that has been about considerably more than four results.
“We built that journey together,” Pochettino said.
One more match will determine how that first journey ends.
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