📉 USMNT in Crisis? Pochettino, Dempsey & the Fallout from Nations League Failure

👋 Hey footy fam,

Welcome to this week’s Footy Fix, your not-so-average roundup of American soccer drama, heart, and hype. The USMNT had a week to forget — but soccer stories across the country are reminding us why we love the game (even when it hurts).

Let’s get into it 👇

This week’s stories

America's new manager didn’t get the start he wanted — or the one fans expected. But Mauricio Pochettino is asking for something that feels in short supply right now: patience.

“I don’t want people to feel pessimistic,” he said in the post-game press conference. 

“Disappointed? We are all disappointed. And the fans need to feel the disappointment that we didn’t win.” 

“But I don’t want to allow them to feel pessimistic because I think we have good players.”

“We are going to find a way to perform and for sure, we are going to compete in a different way. At the end, we are going to get different results than Thursday and today.”

“I don’t want to say I am happy at this [failure], don’t take me wrong, but if there [is] something negative about results, or things to learn, it’s better [to learn it] now because I think we have time. Because if we will be in this situation in one year’s time, for sure I will tell you: ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ No? Eso es.”

Our take on the situation: Pochettino is still new to this job, and international football in general. It seems like despite this being an official tournament, he used it to experiment different players and positions.

It ultimately didn’t work, but that’s what experiments are for. You’d rather see him doing that now instead of in 15 months time at the World Cup.

He deserves time, like the previous manager Gregg Berhalter who had the job for about five years.

USMNT legend Clint Dempsey sounds off on the team 🗣️ 

“If I’m being honest with you, there’s not much that gives me hope from what I saw,” he said on CBS Sports broadcast following the USMNT’s loss to Canada.

“I’m keeping it 100. What happened in Copa América and what happened now is very disappointing.” 

“After you have a failure, you want to see a response. So you think in the Nations League, they’re gonna come out and fight and get things back on track. They didn’t do that.” 

“You had two games to show and it’s not enough. We are not where we’re supposed to be.” 

“I don’t know what it’s like in the national team camp now but it didn’t seem like a togetherness to me, that we used to have in the past where everyone was fighting for each other.”

Our take on the situation: Dempsey isn’t wrong. You can say Pochettino just got here and needs time, but what about the players? Where was the fight to win after the failure at home last summer in the Copa?

The USMNT in previous generations were known for their grit. Even if they lose, they went down fighting. This team seems so lethargic and that’s a worrying sign for fans and for Pochettino.

Maybe pressure from media and fans can make them step up.

Gregg Berhalter faced off against his son Sebastian Berhalter for the first time, as his Chicago Fire side took on Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday night. 

It’s not every day a national team coach-turned-MLS manager faces his own kid. But that’s what happened this week in Vancouver — and the Berhalters had jokes to go around.

“That’s an easy one, it’s dad,” Gregg said. 

“Listen. A player doesn’t get fired if they lose a game right, there you go.” 😂 

Sebastian also had a reply to his father. 

“I told my mom, she’s staying with me until the end of the week, that she’s gotta be for Vancouver,” he said. “So that’s what I’ve been focusing on in the last couple of days.”

Gregg came out as the winner, as his Chicago Fire side beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in Vancouver. It was the first loss for Vancouver this season, they were unbeaten in their first four MLS games.

Our take on the situation: Gregg Berhalter’s Chicago Fire started off the season badly in their first two games, conceding six goals as they made many mistakes playing out from the back.

Since then though, they’ve won three straight games, all of them being away games which made them travel long distance. First it was Dallas, then Toronto, and then Vancouver.

The criticism he received as USMNT coach as his system seems much more suited to club play. Let’s see if he can help Chicago qualify for the playoffs this season.

Bethany Balcer Steps Away to Protect Her Peace.

Racing Louisville’s forward is taking a much-needed break to focus on her mental health — following in the footsteps of Sydney Leroux earlier this month.

“I’ve always preached that when soccer is no longer fun, and you don’t find joy in doing it, something needs to change,” she wrote on Instagram. 

“It seems I haven’t been listening to myself for a while.” 

“The last year and a half I’ve found my identity slowly slipping away being consumed with soccer and being a professional athlete.” 

“I’ve been chasing things that are material, I’ve become bitter, and I’ve lost my love and joy for the game.” 

“While that is sad to admit, I’m excited to focus on Beth outside of soccer, because it’s more important than who Beth the soccer player is.” 

“In due time, I am confident I’ll return to the field with a new passion and energy for doing something I love.” 

“Until then, I’m gonna keep doing my best, for me.” 

Balcer becomes the second player in the NWSL to take a break from soccer this month, following Sydney Leroux. She played five years for Seattle Reign, and scored 33 goals before being traded to Louisville in August.

Our take on the situation: Playing professional soccer isn’t easy. 

Long nights at hotels, constantly being at airports and planes, constantly being away from friends and family, stressful training sessions, playing in front of thousands of people, and of course, being traded and having to move your whole life to another city.

It’s nice to see more and more speaking up on mental health, and if taking a break is the best option, then they should do it.

Denver’s New Stadium Will Raise the Bar for Women’s Sports
Denver NWSL just unveiled plans for a downtown, 14,500-seat soccer-specific stadium — and it’s giving future of the sport vibes.

📍 Santa Fe Yards
🎯 Opens: Spring 2028
🔥 First-ever women’s pro sports district in Colorado

The elevation’s high, but so is the ambition.

Our take on the situation: It’s great to see yet another soccer-specific stadium is being built in the U.S.

Colorado is a place with many soccer fans, as seen with fans coming out whenever an international event takes place. The issues with the Rapids stadium is they are in the middle of nowhere, This stadium will be in downtown Denver, so hopefully it can get more people to come out and of course, grow the game even more.

26,000 Fans Make History at the Coliseum
USL side Oakland Roots packed the house — and the vibe was electric. Hip hop icon Too Short performed pregame, and the Bay showed what community football is all about.

⚠️ Result: L
✅ Atmosphere: Massive W

Our take on the situation: California is getting criticism for the lack of USMNT support this week, but that doesn’t mean soccer isn’t popular in the Golden State.

Soccer is booming in California, as seen by crowds in MLS or during international events. And now, a USL team has brought in over 26,000 fans to the stadium.

If you build culture, the people show up. California soccer is alive and well.

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🎉 See you next week for more chaos, culture, and community in American soccer.

– The Footy Fix team at GOLZ TV