It’s do-or-die for USMNT vs. Uruguay — and maybe for Gregg Berhalter, too

It’s do-or-die for USMNT vs. Uruguay — and maybe for Gregg Berhalter, too

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. men’s national soccer team is in a difficult spot — and not for the first time under Coach Gregg Berhalter.

The group had hoped to have all but secured a Copa América quarterfinal berth by now. Instead, it faces elimination in the group stage Monday — a failure that would increase calls by fans for a coaching change two years before the World Cup takes place in North America.

The Americans (1-1-0, three points) sit second in Group C — two will advance — but it’s a precarious place because of unfavorable matchups on the last day of group play. A U.S. loss to Uruguay (2-0-0, six) would leave Panama (1-1-0, three) needing only a draw against Bolivia (0-2-0, zero) in a match being played in Orlando and also kicking off at 9 p.m. Eastern time. If both games finish in draws, the Americans would advance on goal differential.

Even a U.S. victory might not be enough because a Panamanian victory by a wide enough margin could flip the goal differential tiebreaker. Entering Monday, the U.S. team is plus-one; Panama is minus-one.

“Our knockout game actually came five days earlier,” Berhalter said of his team’s prospects of reaching Saturday’s quarterfinal. “If we don’t put a good performance, [if] we don’t win the game, our Copa América is done. There’s not much else to say.”

The U.S. team is motivated to rebound from its 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday in Atlanta, where Tim Weah received an early red card — the fifth by a U.S. player in the past 21 matches in official competition — and the winning goal was scored in the 83rd minute.

Failure to advance would strike a considerable blow to the U.S. program, which is seeking to make strides as the 2026 World Cup approaches and grow public support for the team and the sport. Copa América is soccer’s third-most-prominent tournament, behind the World Cup and European Championship, and offers the last major test for the U.S. team until 2026.

“We’re all extremely motivated and want to put on a really strong performance, especially on home soil,” captain Christian Pulisic said of this tournament’s importance. “We want to show everyone we’re here to compete with the best.”

The Americans' Christian Pulisic and Panama's José Fajardo battle for the ball Thursday in Atlanta.

Berhalter and his team have faced — and conquered — plenty of adversity over the past 19 months.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they needed to defeat Iran in the group finale to reach the knockout stage. They did.

In the group opener at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, they trailed Jamaica in the waning moments before scoring a late equalizer. In the quarterfinals, they trailed Canada in extra time before benefiting from an own goal and ultimately prevailing in a shootout. In the semifinals, they came back in the same manner against Panama before falling in the tiebreaker.

In the Concacaf Nations League semifinals this year, the United States needed a stoppage-time own goal against Jamaica to force extra time. Two subsequent goals by Haji Wright clinched a place in the final, in which they thumped Mexico for the program’s third consecutive trophy.

“It’s good experience to have in our back pocket,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.

Uruguay, though, is the best team the Americans will face in a do-or-die situation since they lost to the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup’s round of 16. La Celeste (Sky Blue), the 15-time Copa América champion, breezed past Panama and Bolivia by an 8-1 count.

Uruguay has not clinched passage to the Copa quarterfinals because, in theory, the group could finish with three teams on six points. Its famous coach, Marcelo Bielsa, will not be on the sideline Monday, though: Tournament organizers suspended him one game and fined the Uruguayan federation $15,000 because the team was late returning to the field after halftime of the Bolivia match.

His longtime assistant, Diego Reyes, will handle sideline duties. Pressed on whether Uruguay will rest regulars, Reyes said Sunday that lineup decisions had yet to be made.

“My estimate would be they play their strongest team,” Berhalter said.

Bielsa’s absence will not alter Uruguay’s plans to play with high intensity and press aggressively — Bielsa trademarks. “We think as a team. There is a clear idea,” Reyes said.

The Americans will need to cope with Uruguay’s style while pushing for goals themselves in a match they almost certainly must win to advance.

“If you are looking at it realistically, there is a chance this is our last game,” left back Antonee Robinson said, “and there’s no reason to hold anything back.”

Notes: Already ineligible against Uruguay, Weah was suspended an additional game for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller in the back of the head. He would miss the quarterfinal should the United States qualify. …

Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who left the Panama game at halftime with a leg injury, engaged in limited training the past two days. Berhalter said the staff will continue to monitor him. If Turner cannot play, Ethan Horvath would start.