Football News: US Eliminated from Copa América After Narrow Loss to Uruguay
In a disappointing turn of events, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) was eliminated from the Copa América tournament following a 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Monday night. This defeat will undoubtedly increase the pressure on US Soccer to make changes, including a potential removal of coach Gregg Berhalter, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
The only goal of the match came in the 66th minute when Nicolás de la Cruz swung in a free kick that was headed by Ronald Araújo, with the rebound falling to Mathías Olivera, who tapped the ball home. Although Olivera appeared to be offside on the initial header, the goal stood after a video review.
“Where have we come since 2022? You qualify for the World Cup, get out of the group. Where have we progressed? We haven’t. This is our golden generation and it looks like we’re wasting it.” – Clint Dempsey, former USMNT captain
The US had been in a position to advance when Bolivia’s Bruno Miranda equalized against Panama in a simultaneous game, but Panama went on to win 3-1, clinching the second spot in Group C behind Uruguay.
Berhalter and the USMNT, using a lineup of entirely European-based players, had hoped to show the team’s improvement since their round-of-16 elimination at the 2022 World Cup. However, their performance in this year’s Copa América was disappointing, with a 2-0 win over Bolivia followed by a 2-1 upset loss to Panama.
Berhalter, who was rehired in June 2023 and given a contract through the 2026 World Cup, acknowledged the team’s shortcomings:
“We should’ve done better. We’ll do a review and figure out what went wrong and why it went wrong, but it’s an empty feeling right now for sure.”
The loss leaves the US eliminated from the Copa América, with Uruguay topping Group C. As the football world turns its attention to the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, the USMNT and its leadership will face increased scrutiny and pressure to deliver better results in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
🔗 Source