After 2023 World Cup and 2024 Copa America collapses, there's reason to dream again for U.S. women's and men's national teams
As the summer began, it seemed as if the joy had been drained from American soccer.
On the U.S. men's national team side, Gregg Berhalter had just been fired in the wake of the group's unexpected Copa America failure on home soil. It was an embarrassment of epic proportions, as the U.S. became the first-ever host country to crash out in the group stage.
The U.S. women's national team was reeling, fresh off two semi-disappointing performances in Olympic send-off friendlies against Mexico and Costa Rica, all in the long shadow of the 2023 World Cup disappointment that also led to a coaching change, with Emma Hayes just getting started.
And, on the men's Olympic side, Marko Mitrovic's U23 Olympic roster was largely panned. Several exclusions stood out while a few players that were included did little to inspire. The equation seemed too difficult to solve, with none of those factors adding up to what would looked like sustained Olympic runs.
Nothing will completely cleanse the bad aftertaste of the last year – failed World Cup and Copa America missions – but in over the past week, these two U.S. Olympic teams have certainly done their best. American soccer's run through the Olympics has gone better than anyone could have expected, with both teams fighting their way into this week's quarterfinals – Friday for the men, Saturday for the women.
That's a significant development for both programs and American soccer. The job is far from finished, but for the moment, anyway, It gives both teams a chance at a medal, and restored the fun for fans. And after an early-summer humbling, this late-summer run has given the country something even more important: hope.
GettyA disastrous start
It's been well chronicled, so we'll be brief: the Copa America couldn't have gone much worse for the USMNT.
After opening the tournament with a win over Bolivia, the U.S. seemed on their way. It all came crashing down against Panama, though. A loss to Los Canaleros put the U.S. up against it, leaving them needing a win over Uruguay … that didn't happen. They were bounced out in the group stage. It was a disaster.
Gregg Berhalter paid for it with his job, and rightfully so. A failure of those proportions required change, and it was Berhalter who suffered the consequences. The coaching search remains open and, until that hire is made – and depending on whom U.S. soccer chooses – the USMNT is in limbo.
The next coach is will have much work to do. The Copa America proved that this team isn't as far along as many had hoped. With less than two years before the start of the World Cup, time is running out. If this team is to contend on home soil, it all needs to come together fast.
There are concerns about this program. Will they be ready for 2026? Will this supposed Golden Generation ever live up to the hype? And truth be told, is this generation even golden at all?
These questions didn't exist just a few months ago but now define the USMNT during a pivotal moment in this program's history.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesA rapid start to the Hayes Era
Heading into the Olympics, there were justifiable concerns about the immediate future of the USWNT. Everything was looking up, of course, thanks to the arrival of Emma Hayes, but there were still residual concerns from the 2023 failure – and with the Olympics around the corner, could she turn it around in time?
The answer turned out to be an emphatic yes.
Through three games, the USWNT have looked better than they have in years. They battered both Zambia and Germany before edging past Australia, winning the group while sending a message to the rest of the world: this team is back.
An uncertain future and tempered expectations have suddenly turned into a legitimate quest for gold. Last summer's World Cup failure suddenly seems so long ago. And while this is largely the same roster, it's entered a new era, one that could potentially achieve the highest levels of success.
For the long-term, Hayes clearly has a plan in place. Her short-term tactics are already on point, and that makes it even more exciting to see what her long-term vision could be. She's pushed all the right buttons so far; just wait until she actually has all of the options at her disposal.
These Olympics have marked the USWNT's climb back towards the top. And it's only just beginning.
Getty ImagesU23 men handle business
It started off pretty poorly, to be honest. After a strong first-half against France, the wheels fell off in a 3-0 loss in the USMNT's opening match of the 2024 Olympics. The U23s would need two results to advance, and the margin for error had completely disappeared.
But guess what? This team figured it out.
Leading up to the tournament, there was much consternation about who wasn't on the squad. Diego Luna was probably the biggest snub, but players such as Ricardo Pepi and Rokas Pukstas, who were legitimate options, weren't released. Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah were eligible, but weren't involved.
And yet? This team figured it out.
After that humbling loss to France, they rebounded with a lopsided 4-1 win over New Zealand, a victory in a must-win game that gave the U.S. momentum heading into the group stage finale. Needing a win in that match to advance, and in control of their own destinty, the U23s blasted Guinea, 3-0, sealing a knockout round spot.
And the most impressive part? How the young stars have stepped up. Kevin Paredes has balled out on the left-hand side. Tanner Tessmann has made a legitimate USMNT case in the middle. Djordje Mihailovic, one of this team's overage veteran leaders at 25, has been fantastic, providing the type of results to justify his place in the squad. Nathan Harriel is this team's unsung hero while John Tolkin has had plenty of bright moments at left-back.
The future, both long and short-term, is bright. Yes, this is just the quarterfinals. Yes, it could all end in one game. But it's worth pausing to reflect on the accomplishment. Remember, the U.S. men last qualified for the Olympics in 2008, and now, for the first time since 2000, this team advanced to the knockout rounds. That year, they went to the bronze medal game – can they repeat that feat, or more, this time around?
GettyThe road ahead in the Olympics
The USWNT suddenly have justifiable hopes of winning gold.
First up is a quarterfinal against Japan, an old rival. The two teams met in the 2011 World Cup final, a legendary Japan win. The U.S. got their revenge one summer later to win gold at the Olympics in London in 2012. Then came another U.S. win in the 2015 Women's World Cup final.
Can the Americans continue that hot streak this summer?
If they do beat Japan, they'll face the winner of the Germany-Canada match in the semifinal knowing that they'll at least get a shot at a medal. Prior to the tournament, that was certainly the goal, but have the expectations changed? This team blitzed through the group stage, outscoring three opponents by a combined 9-2, the most goals the USWNT have ever scored in an Olympics the group. Given that potential path to the final, the U.S. will feel like they should keep winning and advancing.
As for the men, this will be no easy task: their quarterfinal will see them face a tough Morocco team. Led by superstar Achraf Hakimi, Morocco topped Argentina both on the field and then in the group in these Olympics. This team is a legitimate force to be reckoned with.
Hope is high for both teams. Both are just one victory away from a guaranteed chance at a medal. Given the chaos that preceded this tournament, it already feels as if its been a success.