Following the US Men`s National Team`s 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the recent Gold Cup final, post-mortem analysis was inevitable. While fans and commentators dissected tactics and individual performances, former USMNT player Herculez Gomez offered a notably sharp diagnostic: the blame, he argues, lies squarely with head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the squad selection itself.
Speaking publicly, Gomez didn`t mince words. He expressed surprise, not at potential `pushback,` but at what he termed the prevailing `narrative` suggesting that a full-strength USMNT roster wouldn`t have achieved better results in the tournament. This, for Gomez, was a non-starter. He acknowledged that the team`s top European-based players have faced criticism for past performances in other competitions, but he countered that Pochettino hasn`t yet had the opportunity to field his truly optimal lineup since taking the helm.
“I don`t buy the narrative,” Gomez stated emphatically, suggesting the Gold Cup final outcome could very likely have been different with the inclusion of key players like Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, and Ricardo Pepi, among others he felt were conspicuously absent. His point is simple: even if these players aren`t flawless, they represent a higher level of experience and capability than many who were called upon.
The sticking point for Gomez is the inherent nature of the current USMNT player pool. Unlike nations blessed with generational superstars capable of single-handedly altering the course of a match – a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo figure – the USMNT`s strength, Gomez believes, must come from the collective. The “sum of its parts” becomes paramount, making the inclusion of the strongest possible parts crucial for success. Leaving significant pieces out, therefore, fundamentally weakens the whole structure.
Crucially, Gomez directed his criticism upwards, towards the technical staff, rather than downwards at the players who were picked. He specifically defended the younger, less experienced players, many of whom feature in Major League Soccer (15 players on the Gold Cup roster were MLS-based, with many earning their first significant caps). These players, in Gomez`s view, were put in an overly demanding situation. The onus, he stressed, “is on the coach” to select a squad possessing the necessary experience, talent, and mental fortitude to navigate the pressures of a major international tournament final.
This Gold Cup episode fits into a broader pattern for the USMNT in recent years, often struggling with consistency and availability of key players due to a packed international calendar, club commitments, and injuries. This has complicated efforts to build lasting cohesion and tactical understanding within the full player pool.
Looking ahead, the focus for Coach Pochettino and his staff will shift to upcoming international windows. These present the next opportunities, hopefully, to finally assemble a squad closer to what might be considered full-strength. As the cycle builds towards the 2026 World Cup, the ability to call upon and integrate the best available talent will undoubtedly remain a central, and often debated, aspect of the team`s preparation, perhaps keeping Herculez Gomez`s critical eye firmly fixed on the roster sheets.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood