The USMNT’s Next Chapter Brings Youthful Hope

With another Men’s World Cup cycle underway and Copa America coming up next summer, two September friendlies highlighted a bright future for the US Men’s National Team — Even if the results looked a little more favorable than the on-pitch performance, as was the case in the 4-0 win against Oman at St. Paul’s Allianz Field.

The much anticipated first appearance of Folarin Balogun came in St. Louis on September 9. While Balogun did not score in his first start, a front three with Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah on either side proved that the USMNT’s attack does not need to rely so heavily on Christian Pulisic and that Balogun can contribute even when not scoring himself. The 3-0 win over Uzbekistan was a bit nervy, with Uzbekistan outshooting the US 14 to 10 while maintaining less than 40 percent possession, but Weah, Pulisic, and Ricardo Pepi (who replaced Balogun in the 46th minute) all put away shots in front of a packed CITYPARK.

Coach Gregg Berhalter is fully invested in the next generation of US Soccer. His Starting XI in that match averaged 22.5 years old (that number was raised a bit by Tim Ream and Matt Turner), thanks in part to the success of a core group of players who have been able build up their resumés early overseas (Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Sergino Dest, Weah, Pulisic, Pepi, Balogun). The same core featured heavily in the Oman match at Allianz on Tuesday, September 12.

Three pairs of club teammates in the #USMNT lineup: Pulisic-Musah, McKennie-Weah, and Dest-Tillman. Could've made it five with Ream-Robinson + Callender-Cremaschi. https://t.co/CKBOhvCzZn

— Ben Wright (@benwright) September 12, 2023

Tuesday’s matchup included two first caps (20-year-old Kevin Paredes, currently playing for Vfl Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, and 18-year-old Inter Miami homegrown Benjamin Cremaschi, both subbed on in the second half) bringing the total number of national team debuts under Berhalter to 59. But the highlight of that match was Balogun who scored a Man of the Match worthy goal in the 13th minute to get the night started for the US.

. @balogun with the opener in Minnesota 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/AEKnxy9giJ

— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) September 13, 2023

Pepi also showed his quality with a strike in the 79th minute that put the US up 3-0. An Oman own goal and a lucky Brenden Aaronson freekick goal secured a 4-0 shutout against a surging Oman team that went into the night undefeated in their last five matches of 2023 and who started off the night on the front foot, nearly capitalizing on a few quick counterattacks.

These are the games the USMNT is supposed to win but even the most flattering scorelines haven’t always been pretty. Now, between Balogun and Pepi, the USMNT is once again fun to watch and could in fact live up to the hype.

Just thinking back to Balogun Folarin's raucous intro at the MLS Skills Challenge in DC, when it felt too early to get excited for the next chapter of the #USMNT pic.twitter.com/6YWZO6mMnU

— Bridget McDowell (@BCMcDowell) September 16, 2023

Two friendlies against low-ranked national teams are hardly enough to predict the US Men’s competitive form. However, now we know the pieces are there. A veteran backline and a youthful attack is full of potential. If this squad can tighten things up before Copa America and slay their own demons of competitions past, they have a good chance of being in fine form for the World Cup.