A List of USMNT Moments That Make Me Thankful for this Roller Coaster of a Team
As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, there's plenty to be thankful for as a United States men's national team supporter, both from the storied past and the promising present.
I'm forever grateful for that magical moment in 2010 when Landon Donovan tapped in a rebound in stoppage time against Algeria, securing our advancement and marking the first time we topped a World Cup group since 1930. I was 19 years old and shared that moment with my late father—a memory etched in my brain forever.
Looking further back, the 1950 victory over England stands as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, when Joe Gaetjens' header shocked the football world. It's a reminder that American soccer has always been capable of the improbable. Paul Caligiuri's goal against Trinidad and Tobago in 1989 ended a 40-year World Cup drought, opening the door to the modern era of American soccer. Without that moment, who knows where we'd be today?
I'm thankful for the World Cup run in 2002, when the U.S. was a missed handball away from potentially reaching the semifinals. I was 11 years old, and I remember waking up in the early hours to watch a couple of the matches and not understanding the magnitude of what this run meant. Defeating top-ranked Spain 2-0 in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinals, which I watched in my childhood living room, showed we could compete with anyone.
For the present, I'm grateful for Mauricio Pochettino's arrival and the renewed energy he's brought, though it started with plenty of question marks. Christian Pulisic is flourishing in his prime at AC Milan, while talents like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Sergiño Dest star at Europe's biggest clubs. Folarin Balogun's commitment to our program gives us a true number nine.
Most importantly, hosting the 2026 World Cup on home soil provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The future has never looked brighter for American soccer, and for that, I'm truly thankful.
American Goalkeeper Has Been a Standout for New York Heading into the Conference Finals
When New York City FC travels to Chase Stadium on Saturday for the Eastern Conference Final, their greatest hope of containing Lionel Messi's record-breaking playoff performance may rest on the shoulders of goalkeeper Matt Freese.
The 27-year-old USMNT goalkeeper has been nothing short of sensational throughout the postseason, recording three clean sheets in four playoff matches. His most impressive display came in last weekend's 1-0 upset victory over top-seeded Philadelphia Union, where he made five crucial saves to eliminate the Supporters' Shield winners at Subaru Park.
Freese's performance against his former club was particularly poignant. Having appeared as a substitute for Philadelphia in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final—ironically losing to NYCFC before they captured MLS Cup—he returned to exact revenge. Despite Philadelphia dominating possession and outshooting the visitors 20-6, Freese remained unflappable throughout the 90 minutes.
His highlight-reel moment arrived in the 74th minute when he somehow managed to kick out his boot and deny USMNT youth international Frankie Westfield's point-blank volley, preserving NYCFC's slender advantage. He also produced critical stops on Jakob Glesnes' dangerous attempt just before halftime and Milan Iloski's late-game effort in the 92nd minute.
Now Freese faces his ultimate test: stopping an Inter Miami attack that has been virtually unstoppable. Messi has already shattered playoff records with six goals and six assists this postseason, complementing his 29-goal Golden Boot campaign. Supporting cast members Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti have combined for six goals and five assists in the playoffs, creating a multidimensional offensive threat.
NYCFC has embraced its underdog status throughout the postseason, winning consecutive road matches to reach this stage. For the Cityzens to shock Miami and advance to their second MLS Cup Final since 2021, Freese will need to deliver another masterclass performance against the most prolific attacking force in MLS history.
American Duo Had an Impact in PSV's Champions League Victory Over Liverpool
Two United States internationals played pivotal roles as PSV Eindhoven stunned Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield on Wednesday, delivering one of the most impressive Champions League performances by a Dutch side in recent memory.
Sergino Dest started and played the complete 90 minutes, providing the defensive stability and attacking threat that helped PSV weather Liverpool's first-half pressure before dominating the second period. The versatile defender completed an impressive 28-of-31 passes while creating three chances throughout the match. His most significant contribution came in the closing stages when he combined brilliantly with Ismael Saibari on the right flank before delivering a precise assist to Couhaib Driouech for PSV's fourth goal, sealing the memorable victory.
Ricardo Pepi entered the match in the 69th minute and immediately made his presence felt. The young striker, who had previously scored the winner when these teams met in Eindhoven last January before suffering an injury, was hungry to make an impact. Just minutes after coming on, Pepi cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a powerful shot that struck the base of the post. The rebound fell perfectly for Driouech, who converted PSV's third goal and effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a comeback.
The Americans were part of a fearless PSV performance that saw the Dutch champions take an early penalty lead through Ivan Perisic before weathering intense Liverpool pressure. After Dominik Szoboszlai equalized, PSV regrouped and dominated the second half, with Guus Til restoring their advantage before the American duo helped put the game beyond reach.
The victory moved PSV to 15th place in the Champions League standings with eight points, marking a significant achievement for both the club and Dutch football's European reputation. For Dest and Pepi, the performance demonstrated their growing importance to PSV's campaign and provided valuable momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Forward Scores Second Goal in as Many Champions League Matches
Folarin Balogun is experiencing a remarkable resurgence at AS Monaco, arriving at a crucial moment both for his club and the United States national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The American striker continued his impressive scoring streak with a goal in Monaco's 2-2 Champions League draw against Pafos on Wednesday, marking his fifth consecutive start with a goal for club and country.
The 24-year-old's strike in Cyprus demonstrated both his defensive awareness and clinical finishing ability. After intercepting possession, Balogun wasted no time, unleashing a first-time finish past goalkeeper Neophytos Michael in the 26th minute to restore Monaco's lead. It was the type of confident, instinctive finish that defines strikers in peak form.
This goal represents more than just another tally for Balogun—it symbolizes his complete recovery from a difficult second season at Monaco. After arriving from Reims with high expectations following a 22-goal campaign, he managed eight goals and five assists in his debut season. However, shoulder and ankle injuries derailed his progress last year, significantly limiting his impact with just four goals in 16 appearances.
Now in his third season, Balogun has already surpassed his previous campaign's total output with six goals and an assist across all competitions. The timing of Balogun's renaissance couldn't be better, with the 2026 World Cup on home soil just under 200 days away. The striker position has been a persistent question mark for the USMNT over the last two cycles, but Balogun is providing legitimate answers.
Midfielder Scores First Champions League Goal of the Season in Juventus Win
Weston McKennie spectacularly broke his goal drought during Juventus' dramatic 3-2 victory over Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Tuesday, scoring what proved to be a pivotal goal in the Italian club's challenging Champions League campaign.
The American midfielder, who had struggled to find the net throughout the 2024-25 season, rose magnificently to meet Fabio Miretti's cross in the 59th minute, powering a header past the goalkeeper from six yards out. The goal gave Juventus a 2-1 lead after they had fallen behind early in the match on the artificial pitch in frigid Norwegian conditions.
McKennie's eighth career Champions League goal came at a critical juncture for the Bianconeri, who desperately needed their first win after managing only three draws and suffering a defeat to Real Madrid in their opening fixtures. The timing couldn't have been better for the Texas native, who has faced uncertainty about his place in both club and country.
The header showcased McKennie's aerial prowess as he outjumped his marker to convert the service from Miretti, who had benefited from the inspired play of substitute Kenan Yildiz. The Turkish teenager had entered at halftime and immediately transformed the match, playing a role in all three Juventus goals. While Bodo/Glimt equalized late through a penalty, Jonathan David's stoppage-time winner secured the crucial three points. The victory lifted Juventus to 22nd place in the expanded 36-team Champions League table with six points, keeping their hopes alive of reaching the knockout rounds.
For McKennie, the goal marked a significant milestone—his first of the campaign after a difficult period that saw managerial changes at Juventus and inconsistent call-ups to Mauricio Pochettino's United States national team. Among Americans in Champions League history, he now trails only Christian Pulisic, who leads with 12 goals in the competition.
On This Day in 2020, the Brooklyn-Born Striker Announced His Arrival in Norway
When Folarin Balogun stepped onto the artificial turf at the Aker Stadium in Molde, Norway, on November 26, 2020, he carried the weight of uncertainty on his young shoulders. Just months earlier, the 19-year-old striker had been on the verge of leaving Arsenal entirely, with contract negotiations stalled and an £8 million move to Brentford reportedly on the table. The club he'd joined at age eight—the club he'd chosen over North London rivals Tottenham—suddenly seemed ready to let him walk away.
But football has a way of rewriting narratives quickly. After making his senior debut as a substitute against Dundalk in late October, Balogun earned his chance to prove he belonged. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had already seen enough in training to keep faith, and technical director Edu was watching closely. The New York-born forward, eligible to represent both the United States and England at the international level, was about to make the most emphatic statement possible about his future.
The circumstances that evening in Norway were complicated. Arsenal arrived for their Group B fixture already assured of progression to the knockout rounds, their perfect record in the competition intact. Yet the match carried significance—particularly for players like Balogun fighting to establish themselves in Arteta's plans. The young striker was handed his second appearance, this time entering as a substitute in the 82nd minute with Arsenal already comfortably ahead through goals from Nicolas Pépé and Reiss Nelson.
Most teenage substitutes in such situations would be content simply to see out the match, to bank the experience and wait for the next opportunity. Balogun had other ideas. Within minutes of his introduction, the striker found himself at the center of Arsenal's attack. As the Gunners broke forward with clinical precision, Balogun positioned himself perfectly in the penalty area. When the ball arrived, he didn't hesitate. With a composed touch to control and a swift turn to create space, the 19-year-old wrapped up the victory with a clinical finish that belied his inexperience.
"I knew this was the moment I'd been waiting for," Balogun would later reflect on his first senior Arsenal goal.
The significance extended beyond the scoresheet. Here was a product of Arsenal's academy system—a player they'd nurtured since he was nine years old, who'd helped Trevor Bumstead's U16 side claim the prestigious Liam Brady Cup in 2017 by defeating Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Juventus—finally delivering on that promise at the highest level.
"We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season," Arteta said. "He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us, and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchdays."
For a club that prides itself on developing young talent, Balogun's emergence represented both validation and opportunity. The Brooklyn-born forward possessed a rare blend of attributes—the technical ability to play with his back to goal and link play, the pace to threaten defenses in behind, and a clinical finishing instinct that suggested a natural goalscorer. His eight goals in 18 appearances for the academy that season demonstrated he was ready for more.
The goal in Molde proved to be the catalyst Arsenal's hierarchy needed. While Balogun would add another goal and an assist in his next Europa League appearance against Dundalk, finishing the group stage with two goals, the real breakthrough came off the pitch. The contract impasse that had threatened to send him to Brentford suddenly dissolved. In April 2021, Arsenal announced that Balogun had committed his future to the club with a new long-term deal running through 2025.
When Arsenal traveled to face Premier League newcomers Brentford for their 2021-22 season opener on August 13, 2021, Balogun was named in the starting XI—his first Premier League appearance and first league start for the club. The circumstances were less than ideal, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both unavailable and Eddie Nketiah sidelined by injury. But the opportunity had arrived nonetheless, and Arteta showed his faith in the striker who'd announced himself on that artificial pitch in Norway nine months earlier.
Though Arsenal would fall 2-0 to Brentford that evening, with Balogun substituted after 59 minutes, the trajectory was set. The kid from Brooklyn who'd moved to London as a one-month-old infant, who'd risen through every level of Arsenal's academy, who'd nearly walked away over contract disputes, had established himself as a genuine first-team option for one of England's biggest clubs.
It all traced back to that moment at the Aker Stadium—a substitute appearance in a match already won, a chance seized with both hands, and a future secured with one decisive finish. The hard work, as Arteta noted, was only just beginning. But for Folarin Balogun, the moment he'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
On This Day in 2009, the American Struck Twice as Fulham Moved Into the Top Ten
When Clint Dempsey lined up against Blackburn Rovers on November 25, 2009, he was riding a wave of momentum that had transformed both his status at Fulham and his reputation across European football. The American had entered the season on secure footing—having signed a contract extension through 2013 just three months earlier—and he had responded with his most productive spell yet in a Fulham shirt.
The autumn months had seen Dempsey emerge as Fulham's most dangerous attacking threat. After scoring his first European goal in August against Amkar Perm, he had found the net again in three straight matches at the end of October and the beginning of November: a crucial equalizer away at Manchester City, the winner against Liverpool at Craven Cottage, and another goal at Wigan. Roy Hodgson's side sat ninth in the table, genuine contenders for European qualification, and Dempsey was central to those ambitions.
The match against struggling Blackburn—managed in Sam Allardyce's absence by assistant Neil McDonald—promised little entertainment in its opening stages. Fulham endured a frustrating first forty minutes as Blackburn's aggressive pressing disrupted their passing rhythm. The visitors had the game's first clear chance when Franco di Santo broke through in the second minute, only for Mark Schwarzer to rush out and deny him.
What followed was, in Hodgson's diplomatic assessment, "not the sort of game you like to watch." Neither side created quality chances as Blackburn worked tirelessly to stifle Fulham's creativity. Then, two minutes before halftime, Erik Nevland broke the deadlock. The Norwegian striker combined cleverly with Bobby Zamora before receiving Damien Duff's return pass and sliding a low shot past Paul Robinson at the near post.
That goal transformed the contest. Fulham dominated the second half with renewed confidence, and Dempsey—initially stationed on the left wing—began to find space. After missing two headed opportunities early in the half, he made no mistake in the 66th minute. When Duff cut inside from the right and unleashed a shot toward goal, Dempsey didn't hesitate. Stationed six yards out, he made certain of the finish, tapping the ball past Robinson to double Fulham's advantage.
Hodgson soon shuffled his formation, replacing the injured Zamora with Zoltan Gera and pushing Dempsey into a central striking role. The American thrived in his new position, nearly adding another goal when Chris Baird's exceptional solo run created space in the 73rd minute. Fifteen minutes later, Dempsey delivered the decisive blow. Simon Davies's cross found him in the six-yard box, where he held off his marker, turned sharply, and drilled a low shot past Robinson to complete his brace and seal a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
"We have seen us play more attractive football, but you have to be able to play well against the teams who don't allow you to play how you like," Hodgson said afterward. "If you want to beat these teams, you have to deal with that and then ask them questions."
For Dempsey, the performance was another emphatic statement in what was becoming a career-defining season. His two goals moved Fulham up to tenth place and marked his fifth goal in five Premier League matches. This personal scoring run underscored his evolution from promising contributor to indispensable match-winner.
The American's hot streak would continue through December, as he provided the assist in a stunning 3-0 victory over Manchester United on December 19. By year's end, La Gazzetta dello Sport would name him among the top eleven Premier League players of 2009—recognition that reflected his remarkable transformation from a player fighting for consistent starts into one of the division's most productive attacking forces. More importantly, his goals had helped establish Fulham as genuine contenders for their first-ever European campaign, with Roy Hodgson's side positioned firmly in the top half of the table as the calendar turned to 2010.
Matt Freese delivered a heroic performance between the posts as New York City FC eliminated the top-seeded Philadelphia Union 1-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday night. The 27-year-old USMNT goalkeeper made five crucial saves at Subaru Park, securing his 13th clean sheet of the season and sending his side to the Eastern Conference Final.
Fresh off international duty with the United States against Paraguay and Uruguay, Freese was tested early and often by the Supporters' Shield winners. Philadelphia outshot NYCFC 20-6 overall, including a 9-3 advantage in the first half, but Freese stood tall throughout the contest.
His most spectacular moment came in the 74th minute when he flung out his boot to deny USMNT youth international Frankie Westfield's point-blank volley, a save that preserved NYCFC's slender advantage. Earlier, Freese had made a quick-reaction stop on Jakob Glesnes' sharp-angled attempt in the 45th minute, while he capped his performance with a 92nd-minute save on Milan Iloski's long-range blast.
The victory held special significance for Freese, who was playing against his former club. He had appeared for Philadelphia as a substitute in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final, ironically losing to NYCFC before they went on to win MLS Cup. His performance earned him Player of the Match honors and set up a tantalizing Eastern Conference Final showdown with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Winger Scores the Winner in the Derby Della Madonnina
Christian Pulisic delivered when it mattered most, scoring the decisive goal in AC Milan's 1-0 Derby Della Madonnina victory over Inter Milan at San Siro on Sunday. The 27-year-old USMNT star's clinical finish proved the difference in a heated rivalry match with genuine title implications, moving Milan into second place in Serie A.
The crucial moment arrived in the 54th minute when Rafael Leao orchestrated an attack that found Alexis Saelemaekers wide. The Belgian winger slipped while shooting, but his effort was pushed away by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer. However, Pulisic exemplified the striker's instinct by continuing his run. At the same time, Inter defender Manuel Akanji reacted a split second too late, allowing the American to tap home the rebound for an easy finish.
The goal marked Pulisic's triumphant return to full fitness after missing four consecutive Serie A matches with a hamstring injury. He had managed just 20 minutes against Parma before the international break and was held out of USMNT duty for matches against Paraguay and Uruguay to manage his recovery.
His fifth Serie A goal of the campaign levels him with Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu and Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini as joint top scorers in what has been a finish-challenged season across the league. Combined with two assists in eight Serie A appearances and goals in both of Milan's Coppa Italia fixtures, Pulisic has registered seven goals across all competitions.
The victory was secured despite Inter's dominant possession and multiple chances, with Mike Maignan producing heroics, including a spectacular penalty save from Calhanoglu in the 73rd minute. Pulisic's derby goal was his third against Inter, having previously scored in September 2024's league encounter and January 2025's Supercoppa Italiana final.
On This Day in 1996, the U.S. Stayed Perfect in World Cup Qualifying After a Win in Trinidad
The heat arrived before the Americans did. By the time Steve Sampson's squad touched down in Port-of-Spain on Friday afternoon, three days before kickoff, the temperature had already climbed past 90 degrees with humidity thick enough to taste. This was the Caribbean in late November—tropical, unforgiving, and exactly what Trinidad and Tobago had been counting on since the schedule was published months earlier.
Seven years. That's how long the memory had festered on this island. November 19, 1989, when Paul Caligiuri's improbable 35-yard shot had dipped under the crossbar and sent the United States to Italia '90 while Trinidad and Tobago watched from home. The champagne they'd prepared for their own celebration had been graciously—painfully—delivered to the American locker room instead. National Stadium had been a sea of 30,000 in red that day, a nation of 1.26 million people ready to become the smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup.
Now the Americans were back, and Trinidad needed a miracle. Winless through three matches and sitting at the bottom of Group 1 with a single point, they faced mathematical elimination with a loss. Dwight Yorke, who had been an 18-year-old kid who played an hour that fateful day in 1989, where his World Cup dream dissolved, was now 25 and starring in the English Premier League with seven goals in his last seven matches for Aston Villa. He'd publicly appealed for support, begging the nation not to sign off on his team before the final whistle.
The crowd suggested otherwise. When Sunday arrived—kickoff scheduled for noon, the sun was already brutal—only 8,000 fans filtered into Hasely Crawford Stadium, leaving two-thirds of the seats empty. The resignation was palpable. Russell Latapy, Trinidad's captain and creative engine, hadn't even bothered to fly back from Portugal, choosing to remain with Boavista rather than witness another collapse. The team that took the field and challenged the Americans in Richmond had evaporated into the Caribbean humidity.
Sampson had made his calculations during the week. The Americans would play defensively, absorb pressure, and strike when Trinidad's desperation created openings. In 92-degree heat with 85 percent humidity, fitness would decide the match as much as talent. Eddie Pope, whose debut against Trinidad two weeks earlier had been seamless, would anchor the back line. Kasey Keller, riding three consecutive shutouts, would guard the net. Tab Ramos would patrol midfield until the conditions drained him. And somewhere in that framework, the Americans would find one moment—one lapse in Trinidad's organization—to exploit.
That moment nearly went the other way first. In the 26th minute, Hutson Charles broke free down the left channel with only Keller to beat. The goalkeeper charged off his line in a desperate slide, arriving just in time to smother the ball outside the penalty area. The Barbadian referee, Mark Ford, blew his whistle and pointed to the spot where Keller's hands had touched the ball—outside the box. Yellow card. The replays would later show Keller had been inside, but in real time, the Americans held their breath. A red card would have meant ejection, leaving them to play 64 minutes with ten men in hellish conditions. Instead, they survived with a warning and a dangerous free kick that came to nothing.
Eight minutes later, the match turned on alertness and exhaustion. Ancil Elcock clattered into Earnie Stewart from behind 25 yards from goal, and Ford whistled for the foul. Trinidad's players stopped—some to protest, some to catch their breath, goalkeeper Michael Maurice standing casually off his line. The Americans didn't stop. John Harkes, reading the moment with the instinct of a veteran, quickly rolled the ball forward to Joe-Max Moore. The forward kept running while Trinidad stood still, and from 16 yards he chipped a delicate shot over Maurice's shoulder into the empty net.
"Absolutely brilliant," Sampson would say afterward. "When you have this heat and humidity, people tend to take mental breathers or turn their backs to the ball. That's the time to put it down and play."
The goal changed everything. Trinidad, needing three points to stay alive, pushed forward with the desperation of the condemned. The second half became an exercise in American resilience. Yorke dropped deeper, trying to create from midfield. Shots rained toward Keller's goal—five saves in total, including a diving stop after substitute Stern John beat him to a cross, only to see Jeff Agoos block the attempt with expert positioning. When Keller was called for a delay of game in the 73rd minute, and Trinidad was awarded an indirect free kick from six yards out, Cobi Jones threw himself in front of Yorke's blast, taking the shot directly to the face.
Ramos, who had been fighting cramps for 20 minutes, finally succumbed in the 79th minute. He signaled to the bench, and Mike Burns entered to shadow Yorke. The injury would later be diagnosed as a torn ACL, requiring reconstructive surgery and four to six months of recovery. The most skillful American midfielder would miss the rest of qualifying and the early stages of MLS. But in the moment, his exit simply marked Trinidad's last gasp. The home side had run out of ideas and, in the withering heat, out of legs.
The final whistle confirmed what the empty seats had predicted: Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup dream was over. Again. Seven years after Caligiuri, the Americans had returned to Port-of-Spain and delivered another dose of heartbreak. This time, there was no drama, no miracle shot—just clinical professionalism and a single moment of quick thinking that Trinidad's exhausted defenders couldn't recover from.
In three matches, the Americans secured nine points from a possible nine while conceding no goals. The Americans sat alone atop Group 1, needing just a draw from their final two matches to guarantee advancement to the hexagonal final round. The mathematics had become simple: one more result and it's off to the next round.
But the victory had come at a cost. Agoos, who had blocked John's shot so heroically, picked up his second yellow card of the round and would miss the Costa Rica match. Ramos was gone for months. The team that had looked so dominant through three matches would have to navigate the final stretch with a thinner roster and mounting fatigue.
Sampson refused to celebrate prematurely. "It's a pretty darn good scenario to be in," he acknowledged, "but we can't afford to look past Costa Rica." Next Sunday in San José, in front of a hostile crowd at 3,000 feet above sea level, the Americans would face their sternest test yet. Costa Rica had lost to Guatemala earlier that day, falling to 1-2 in the group, and they would be desperate for points on home soil.
For now, though, redemption belonged to the Americans. Seven years after announcing their arrival on the world stage in this same stadium, they had returned and proven it wasn't a fluke. Caligiuri's shot changed U.S. soccer forever, opening the door to World Cup '94, MLS and legitimacy on the international stage. This victory, quieter and more businesslike, confirmed what that moment had promised: the United States was no longer a miracle story. They were a regional power, capable of winning anywhere against anyone in CONCACAF.
