For the U.S. Men’s National Team, as long as progression is incremental and forward, things will be OK.
In the first camp since falling just short of a Concacaf Gold Cup victory, head coach Mauricio Pochettino called in another batch of mostly MLS players to give them one last shot at joining the fold for next summer’s World Cup.
The decision was met with criticism, especially after an uninspiring 2-0 loss to South Korea. But then the Americans impressed in a 2-0 win over Japan — 19th in FIFA’s world ranking compared to South Korea’s 23rd — and opened its latest camp with a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Austin, Texas.
Now, the Americans can make it three unbeaten matches in a row Tuesday night against Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park — the USMNT’s first trip to Colorado since 2017 — and show clear advancement in another international friendly.
“Progression is progression. It’s difficult to measure,” Pochettino said. “(Australia) beat Canada in Canada, I think we need to respect and we will respect (them). (It) will be another good test like Ecuador.”
Striker Folarin Balogun got back to his scoring ways against Japan after his team was blanked by South Korea, which marked progress for player and for country. For October camp and friendlies, Pochettino called in more big guns — a squad that looks a lot closer to what the World Cup roster will look like than in the September camp.
The USMNT deserved better than a 1-all draw to Ecuador (FIFA’s No. 24 team), but to come away with that conclusion also signals progress. Balogun scored in his second consecutive match to level the match in the final 20 minutes after Ecuador struck in the first half.
“All the strikers that we have are really top players, and they’re scoring goals in their respective leagues and doing a great job at the moment. To pick out (Balogun), he’s a great striker,” Leeds United and USMNT midfielder Brenden Aaronson said on Monday. “I’ve watched his games in Monaco; he’s always going off the back shoulder. He’s really difficult to deal with because he’s always dribbling, going at players, and also going in behind. He’s got two different things that he can play: He can hold up the game, and he can also go in behind and create chances by himself.”
Balogun was the most dangerous player all night against Ecuador at Q2 Stadium on Friday, leading the match in shots and shots on target (3, 2), as well as touches inside the opponent’s box (8).
The striker is getting hot at just the right time, with the Americans most in need of a clear No. 1 at the position. Josh Sargent was the man in 2022 and started the EFL Championship season scorching for his club, Norwich City. But he hasn’t scored in a U.S. jersey since 2018.
Balogun had to wait for his chance, but the Brooklyn-born forward is looking more and more like the answer at striker for 2026.
“It’s always nice as an attacker, you always want to score. I think the most important thing is to just continue to learn under (Pochettino) and as a group, for us to continue to progress,” Balogun said. “I think no matter how small the progression is, the most important thing is to continuously progress.”
Aaronson reunion: Aaronson got to visit with his brother, Rapids midfielder Paxten Aaronson, at his Denver apartment for the first time since Paxten joined the club for a record fee from Eintracht Frankfurt.
“I’m really happy for him. I think it’s a huge step in his life, and I think that he’s doing amazing,” Brenden said of Paxten. “He’s trying to do the best that he can, and that’s what he’ll always do every game. That’s something you can always count on him for doing. I think it’s continuing to build and (the Rapids have) got two big games coming up which I’ll be tuning in for.”
More on Zack Steffen’s absence: When the October camp roster was released, Pochettino told reporters he doesn’t tell players why they do or do not make the USMNT squads. Tuesday, he was a bit clearer when it came to Steffen’s omission.
“All the positions are open, but of course, Zack, we know very well, and he’s on our radar,” he said. “Of course, it’s about competition, it’s about performance, it’s about (being) fit — he was a bit unlucky in different camps, he was injured. But for sure, he’s on our radar and, of course, if he performs, he will have the chance to be with us again.”
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