Kane & Bellingham lead Tuchel's England but bench beckons for Foden

Why WSL clubs are filling their squads with Japanese talent

The day Man Utd fans stopped football 

bet365 Bonus Code: Claim free football bets in March 2025

NXGN 2025: Football's 50 best teenage wonderkids

Editors' Picks

England vs Albania: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Mbappe goes missing amid France defensive disaster-class

Another Kane trophy miss? Bayern star sent Golden Boot warning

Wrexham sale fears raised as Rob & Ryan edge closer to fulfilling EPL dream

Vini's magical strike lifts Brazil to big win over Colombia

Lewis-Skelly & Kane give England's Tuchel era lift-off

Ronaldo 'legacy' warning & tipped to retire 'when Messi stops'

Kane given Bayern retirement advice in Lewandowski comparison

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Flopped at 2024 Copa America</li><li>Semi-final heartache in Nations League</li><li>Questions ahead of home World Cup</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Worried about the future of this USMNT' - Questions of 'Golden Generation' as Clint Dempsey reacts to 'two big failures' from Christian Pulisic & Co in 2026 World Cup countdown

CONCACAF Nations League

Canada

<p>The United States will be filling the role of co-hosts, alongside Canada and Mexico, at the 2026 World Cup. An exciting group of players were expected to build towards that tournament ready to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/world-cup-history-makers-christian-pulisic-gio-reyna-usmnt-class-2026-record-setting-prediction-hero-1994-finals/blta342857a2348bac2" target="_blank">make a potentially historic contribution to a global showpiece on home soi</a>l.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>They have, however, endured concerning flops in a couple of continental competitions. Failure to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unwanted-history-usmnt-forgettable-first-posted-copa-america-christian-pulisic-gio-reyna-crash-out-group-stage-home-soil/bltf6b161bd3ccfcdaa" target="_blank">make it out of the group stage at the 2024 Copa America</a> led to managerial change, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/christian-pulisic-how-mauricio-pochettino-take-usmnt-new-level-tim-ream-evolution-former-chelsea-psg-coach/blt40861db4e1d473c3" target="_blank">ex-Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino</a> has been unable to deliver CONCACAF Nations League glory after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/usmnt-player-ratings-vs-panama-americans-handed-home-soil-humiliation-again-mauricio-s-pochettino-s-side-fails-to-defend-concacaf-nation-s-league-title/bltcc7d5f956c1ac857" target="_blank">suffering a shock semi-final defeat to Panama</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>USMNT legend Dempsey is concerned about what the immediate future holds for a group of players that are failing to live up to expectations. A man with 141 caps to his name told <a href="https://x.com/GolazoAmerica/status/1902903852329787743 " target="_blank"><em>CBS Sports</em></a>: "People talked about this team being the ‘Golden Generation’. They qualify for the World Cup, they had a pretty strong performance, but then you look at the steps back – Copa America, not getting out of the group there, on home soil. Here, as we get closer to the World Cup, another failure so close to each other. It doesn’t give you a lot of hope.</p><p>"You look at us in our situation right now and it just doesn’t give you a lot of confidence, going towards this World Cup and having those two big failures so close to each other. Now we have the Gold Cup coming up – not going to have all of our best players because some are going to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.</p><p>"You look at the strength of schedule after that, who are the teams that you are playing against that are going to get you ready? I’m a little nervous and I’m worried about the future of this U.S. men’s national team."</p>

WHAT CLINT DEMPSEY SAID

<p>Pochettino is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/funny-name-christian-pulisic-reacts-captain-america-tag-usmnt-star-addresses-statement-ac-milan-legend-zlatan-ibrahimovic/blt54d0f7bb93b538f1" target="_blank">able to call upon the likes of Christian Pulisic</a>, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams – who are all playing at the highest level in Europe – but the USMNT are <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mauricio-pochettino-christian-pulisic-tyler-adams-and-the-winners-and-losers-of-the-usmnt-s-unimaginative-languid-concacaf-nations-league-loss-to-panama/blt102c1e634b2c6397" target="_blank">yet to find a formula that brings the best of talented individuals</a> when they are asked to work together as a collective.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

'Worried about the future of this USMNT' - Questions of 'Golden Generation' as Clint Dempsey reacts to 'two big failures' from Christian Pulisic & Co in 2026 World Cup countdown | Goal.com UK

Clint Dempsey is &quot;worried about the future of this USMNT&quot; after seeing America&apos;s so-called &quot;Golden Generation&quot; experience &quot;two big failures&quot;.

&apos;Worried about the future of this USMNT&apos; - Questions of &apos;Golden Generation&apos; as Clint Dempsey reacts to &apos;two big failures&apos; from Christian Pulisic &amp; Co in 2026 World Cup countdown

Next Match