USMNT Aims to Carry Over Energy From 2025’s Statement Finish
· Yahoo Sports
MARIETTA, Ga. – The U.S. Men’s National Team hasn’t seen action in more than four months, since November 18, 2025, and as the team prepares to play its first match of the calendar year against ninth-ranked Belgium on Saturday, March 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, USMNT players have reportedly been itching to pick up right where they left off.
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The USMNT concluded 2025 on a soaring note, defeating then-14th ranked Uruguay at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The U.S. mounted an energetic and fearless performance, scoring four first-half goals against the two-time World Cup winners en route to a statement 5-1 win.
The victory over Uruguay wrapped a highly successful back half of the year for head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his team. Under Pochettino's leadership, the U.S. compiled an 8W-2L-2D record in its final 12 matches of the year and enters a two-match set against a pair of top-10 European sides riding a six-match unbeaten streak against World Cup-qualified opponents.
“Leaving that game, in the style how we won it, all of us wanted to come back and play the next week and continue on with it,” defender Auston Trusty said Wednesday. “It's been three, four months since we've all seen each other. There’s been some time, but hopefully we bring that energy back and bring that momentum from leaving that game.”
The Celtic FC defender started the November win over Uruguay and made major contributions on both ends of the pitch. Trusty assisted defender Alex Freeman’s second goal of his brace and later helped set up midfielder Diego Luna’s finish in the 42nd minute.
Trusty was one of five center backs called up for March training camp, joining Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson. Each player in that group is looking to vie for a spot on Pochettino’s 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup later this year. Last week, the head coach used this position group to demonstrate the level of competition in this camp and emphasize that no player is guaranteed a spot on the World Cup roster at this point.
Players have reported knowing that roster spots are still up for grabs has created high intensity and competition in training. It’s also helped them stay focused and not look too far ahead.
“Individually, you have to do your thing, play your game, and put yourself in the best position to get stuff for the team,” Trusty said. “Also while you're on the team, while you're in the squad, in camp, it's [about] being the teammate that's working hard during training, supporting staff, supporting the players around you, and really giving it your all.”
Another center back in the mix is Robinson, who has earned 38 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team in his career. The two matches this week in Atlanta marks Robinson's return to the same training site and stadium where he began his professional soccer career. In 2017, Robinson was the first MLS SuperDraft pick in Atlanta United history, going No. 2 overall out of Syracuse. The center back played seven years at the club, making 123 regular season appearances and winning the 2018 MLS Cup with the 5-Stripes, before moving on to FC Cincinnati.
“First and foremost, I’m very grateful to be back and representing the stars and stripes here,” Robinson said. “Atlanta definitely did a lot for me, in terms of my career.”
The most-capped center back in March camp, Ream, described earlier this week the importance of playing loose and confident, to not feel like your knuckles are turning white from such a tight grip. His two teammates on the backline both agreed that this moment heading into the two Atlanta matches is about staying focused on the present moment and making the most of the opportunities in front of you.
“Every day, every game, every training session is to put itself in position to make that spot, make that position for the team to be one of the key players,” Trusty said.
“It’s about understanding that every day is a mission,” Robinson said. “You have to compete at your best, recognizing that you have to be coachable. You have to understand what Poch wants from you but also have that mentality to be focused in every aspect of the game. Keep as many clean sheets as possible and do the most you can in any opportunity that you get.”