It went exactly as you expected in would. A team loaded with players capable of playing at the highest levels absolutely battered a team of players that certainly aren't of the standard.
The U.S. men's national team completely dominated Grenada on Friday night to resume their Nations Legue campaign. That word is thrown out often in sport, "dominated", but it fits here. They crushed them 7-1, and that scoreline may actually be somewhat flattering.
Still, though, this game was exactly what the USMNT needed. In the first match since the World Cup, the USMNT's stars got a chance to show their stuff. Christian Pulisic was totally unplayable. Weston McKennie was a menace. Brenden Aaronson popped up with a goal. Gio Reyna, after everything that's happened, was back in the team and had some bright moments in a new position.
Ricardo Pepi will likely be happiest of all, though. After missing the World Cup after his club form cratered, Pepi is back scoring goals for Groningen and, now, back scoring goals for the national team. He had two of them on this night, his first two for the USMNT since 2021 and, regardless of opposition, that'll always feel nice.
Alejandro Zendejas will smile, too, having scored his first USMNT goal, while Auston Trusty and Taylor Booth showed good signs in their USMNT debuts.
Overall, we didn't learn much about the USMNT. They're a class above Grenada, and we knew that coming in. But that won't make the result any less sweet as the 2026 World Cup cycle is now truly underway
GOAL rates the USMNT's players from Kirani James National Stadium...