First International Window of the New Cycle is Successful

The Americans Found Their Stride With Four Wins from Four Matches to Start the 2030 World Cup Cycle

The U.S. men’s national team’s first window since the World Cup ended with a perfect four wins from four, treating the camp as a laboratory. Mauricio Pochettino, whose side was knocked out by Belgium in the round of 16 this summer, rotated heavily and handed 13 players debuts, many of them teenagers.

The results were lopsided early. The Americans beat Peru 4-1 in Orlando, then Chile 4-2 in St. Louis, then Mexico 3-0 in Glendale. The finale against Canada was a bruising 1-0 affair that lacked the fluidity of the earlier games but showed a gritty side. The four matches saw 12 goals, and the run marked the program’s first four-game winning streak in official FIFA windows in more than five years.

The youngsters stole the show. Justin Ellis, 19, scored the window's opening goal and the winner at its close. Julian Hall, 18, scored in each of his first three appearances. Mathis Albert, 17, became the youngest scorer in U.S. history against Chile, a record that lasted four days before fellow 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan topped it against Mexico.

Others made their cases too. Brian Schwake earned a clean sheet in his first start, and Diego Kochen’s showing against Mexico could earn him another look. Gio Reyna started all four games, while Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman supplied much of the creativity.

Pochettino stressed that the younger players must seize their chances. “They need to be ready to take the opportunity,” he said. The harder question is who stays once the established names return. The next test is a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti in November.

Fourth Win of the Window

Ellis's Goal Was the Difference in American Victory Over Canada

Mauricio Pochettino’s United States closed out its fall camp the way it began, with a win, though this one was far less polished than the others. On Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Americans edged Canada 1-0 for a fourth victory in as many matches since their round-of-16 World Cup exit against Belgium.

Justin Ellis made the difference. The 19-year-old Orlando City striker, who also scored against Peru on Sept. 26, took a heavy challenge around the 20th minute and needed treatment on the touchline. He returned still limping, and by the 29th minute he was in the right spot when Alex Freeman delivered a cross, steering it into the net.

Little flowed after that. Canada played a physical game, and the contest became a scrappy back-and-forth as both coaches dug deep into their benches without finding a second goal. Pochettino changed six starters from the side that beat Mexico 3-0, including a first senior start for 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert, again blending youth and experience.

In goal, Nashville SC’s Brian Schwake earned a clean sheet in his first start. His standout moment came in the 63rd minute, when he got a hand to a close-range effort from Luc de Fougerolles and sent it off the crossbar.

Pochettino praised his players’ stamina after a compressed schedule. “The effort was massive,” he said, pointing to four games in two weeks. “I’m not happy because we won. I’m happy because of the performance and the commitment that the players showed.”

The U.S. now holds a 17-13-12 (WDL) all-time record against Canada. Next, the U.S. faces Haiti in a two-leg Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal in November, with a semifinal spot on the line. Canada will face Guatemala.