January 21 – The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) played the first of two international friendlies this month beating Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This friendly was the fifth time former Tottenham Hotspur, PSG, and Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino has led the team, and he has now won four of those matches.
Much has been made of Pochettino’s lack of knowledge when it comes to Major League Soccer (MLS) players, however, the Argentine fielded a team made up almost entirely of players from MLS due to the game falling outside of a FIFA international window.
What will be particularly pleasing to Pochettino is that many of his players are just returning to their clubs and beginning the process of pre-season.
In front of a decent sized crowd of 18,008, Jack McGlynn, who plays for the Philadelphia Union opened the scoring, and just two minutes later Charlotte FC forward, Patrick Agyemang, doubled the lead. Matko Miljevic, who most recently at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina, wrapped up the scoring.
Pochettino, certainly isn’t afraid of experimentation as he gave six starters debuts. Max Arfsten, George Campbell, Brian Gutierrez, Carden Clark, and the scorers Miljevic and Agyemang all pulled on the stars and stripes jersey for the first time.
Venezuela who are currently struggling in Conmebol 2026 World Cup qualifying offered very little other than a Jorge Yriarte consolation goal.
Next up for the USMNT will be a far tougher task as they take on Concacaf foes Costa Rica. The Tico’s won 2-0 the last time these two teams met in World Cup qualifying in 2022. This match will stay in the state of Florida moving inland to the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
In March the US will defend their Nations League title at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1737452791labto1737452791ofdlr1737452791owedi1737452791sni@o1737452791fni1737452791