Landon Donovan on everything surrounding this amazing season of soccer
USMNT legend Landon Donovan sits down with Mackenzie Salmon to talk Euros, Team USA and Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team was knocked out of the 2024 Copa America following Monday night’s 1-0 loss against Uruguay in Kansas City.
That result coupled with Panama’s 3-1 win over Bolivia forced the USMNT’s early exit from the tournament, which is being held on home soil. It’s an unbelievably disappointing performance for the USMNT.
The USMNT put itself in a difficult position ahead of Monday’s match against Uruguay — one of the top teams in the tournament — with a stunning defeat against Concacaf rival Panama on Thursday night. The U.S. entered Monday night’s game needing to at least match what Panama did against Bolivia, one of the weakest squads in Copa America. The U.S. was not up to the task. Instead, Uruguay and Panama advance to the knockout round.
“We had a good start and then brought a lot of energy, but at the end of the day just not enough quality,” Christian Pulisic told FOX Sports in a postgame interview. “I felt like we gave it everything, but just couldn’t find the solutions to score.”
The failure to advance beyond the group stage in Copa America could force major changes in the team, most notably with the job status of coach Gregg Berhalter.
“Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We must do better,” U.S. Soccer Federation sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. “We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa America and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup.”
Chants of “fire Gregg” could be heard during the second half and after the final whistle Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. After the game, Berhalter acknowledged that his team fell well short of expectations.
“We know that we’re capable of more, and this tournament, we didn’t show it,” Berhalter said.
The USMNT hoped to use the Copa America to build momentum toward the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Instead, the team is in the unwelcome position in which difficult decisions will need to be made in the two-year build-up to the second World Cup ever held in the U.S.
Mathias Olivera scored the lone goal in Uruguay’s 1-0 win over the U.S., who were knocked out after finishing third in Group C.
Special mention must be given for the unique awfulness that was Kevin Ortega’s performance on Monday.
The Peruvian official had something of a nightmare, which began in the first half when Tyler Adams was shown a yellow card for … being stepped on by Olivera.
But the true coup de grâce was an unprecedented move in the first half that started with a justified yellow card for U.S. defender Chris Richards. But things went haywire from there.
Uruguay attempted a quick restart, which Ortega inexplicably allowed despite being in the process of yellow-carding Richards. The sequence would have resulted in a goal were it not for Tim Ream’s goal-line clearance.
— Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
The USMNT needs a near-miracle now after Panama extended its lead against Bolivia.
César Yanis scored in the 91st minute to give Panama its third goal of the game.
The USMNT is emptying the bench to get as many attacking players into the game as possible as it desperately tries to save its Copa America campaign. Forward Haji Wright came on for defender Joe Scally in the 79th minute.
Wright has four goals for the USMNT, including one during the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Eduardo Guerrero put Panama back in the lead — and further damaged the USMNT’s hopes to advance — with a 79th minute goal.
Panama leads, putting the U.S. in a position where it needs a win to reach the knockout round.
Desperately needing a goal (or maybe more), the USMNT has subbed on another striker in Josh Sargent. Midfielder Yunus Musah, who was making his first start of the Copa America, was taken off the field during the 72nd minute substitution.
Just moments after Bolivia presented the USMNT with a Copa America lifeline, Uruguay finally broke through with the game’s first goal.
It came off a free kick in which U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner made a save off a header, but the rebound was buried for a goal by defender Mathias Olivera. The play was reviewed by VAR for offsides but later confirmed as a goal.
Bruno Miranda tied it up for Bolivia in the 69th minute against Panama, and with that goal gave the U.S. a chance to finish second in the group and advance to the knockout round.
The U.S. and Uruguay have combined for just one shot on goal through 60 minutes of play.
The two teams also have combined for 15 fouls and three yellow cards in a physical game that lacks any rhythm.
Panama still leads Bolivia 1-0, a result that would keep the U.S. out of the knockout stage.
As things stand at the break for both Copa America Group C games, the USMNT will not advance to the knockout round. The team desperately needs a go-ahead goal to keep its Copa America hopes alive.
With Panama winning and Uruguay-USA deadlocked, both Uruguay — as the group winner — and Panama — as group runner-up — would advance.
Uruguay forward Darwin Núñez was presented with a yellow card after a challenge on the USMNT’s Joe Scally during the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
The demolition derby nature of this game is taking a toll on both teams — with each already making a first-half substitution — with the game threatening to get out of hand for referee Kevin Ortega.
The physical first half between the U.S. and Uruguay resulted in another first-half substitution, as Folarin Balogun was replaced by Ricardo Pepi in the 41st minute.
Balogun had a collision with Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet earlier in the game.
USMNT defender Chris Richards was issued a yellow card in the 32nd minute.
If the USMNT were to advance out of the group stage, Richards would miss the next match after earning his second yellow card of the competition.
Uruguay’s Maximiliano Araújo had to be stretchered off the field following a collision with the USMNT’s Tim Ream.
Araújo immediately subbed out of the game and replaced by Cristian Olivera, who plays professionally for Major League Soccer‘s Los Angeles FC. Olivera has four goals in 16 games played for LAFC.
José Fajardo scored in a 22nd minute to put Panama into the lead against Bolivia, while simultaneously striking a blow to the USMNT’s hopes of advancing in the Copa America.
If Panama wins vs. Bolivia, the USMNT also would need to win while also maintaining its goal differential advantage on Panama to advance.
Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna pushed forward and nearly were able to get the ball to Folarin Balogun for a goal-scoring chance, but Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet stepped in to halt the opportunity.
Both the USMNT-Uruguay game and Bolivia-Panama games are scoreless through 15 minutes. If these scorelines hold — a highly unlikely scenario — the U.S. would advance.
Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. ET on Monday, July 1.
The USMNT-Uruguay Copa America 2024 game will be held at Arrowhead Stadium, regular home stadium for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Arrowhead Stadium is among the 11 United States-based venues that will host games for the 2026 World Cup.
The television broadcast will be available on FS1, with pregame coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET. John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst), Ana Jurka (sideline reporter) and Dr. Joe Machnik (rules analyst) will provide coverage for FOX Sports.
The Spanish-language television broadcast available on Univision/TUDN.
The match will stream on FOX Sports. Vix will provide a streaming option for Spanish-language broadcasts. Streaming also available on Fubo.
With Tim Weah out with a red-card suspension, Yunus Musah will start in his place against Uruguay. This is Musah’s fist start of the 2024 Copa America.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who suffered a leg injury in Thursday night’s loss to Panama, is healthy enough to start.
Despite having first place in the group nearly locked up, Uruguay is rolling out a first-choice squad against the U.S.
Maximiliano Araújo and Darwin Núñez each have scored two goals apiece in Copa America 2024 (Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez is the tournament’s leading goal scorer so far with four). Núñez, who plays his club football for the Premier League’s Liverpool, has scored seven goals in his last four games for Uruguay.
Luis Suárez, the all-time leading goal scorer for Uruguay, is available off the bench.
Monday’s Copa America 2024 slate features two games, both involving teams in Group C:
➤ United States vs. Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium, 9 p.m. ET (FS1)
➤ Bolivia vs. Panama at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, 9 p.m. ET (FS2)
The USMNT put itself in a real tough spot heading into its final group stage match at the 2024 Copa America.
However, there are still a number of scenarios that could see the team avoid a stunning group-stage elimination.
The USMNT can advance by matching or bettering Panama’s result against Bolivia while maintaining its goal differential edge. Both the USMNT and Panama enter the final matchday on three points, with the U.S. holding a two-goal advantage on goal differential, the first tiebreaker.
Here are the USMNT’s advancement scenarios:
➤ The USMNT will advance with a win over Uruguay by four or more goals, regardless of Panama’s result.
➤ If the USMNT and Panama both win, then the U.S. will need to maintain its goal differential advantage to advance.
➤ If Panama and Bolivia draw, then the U.S. will advance with a win or draw.
➤ If Bolivia beats Panama, the U.S. will advance with a win or draw, or with a loss if it maintains its goal differential advantage.
— Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
Here is the Group C table heading into Monday night’s action:
1. Uruguay: 6 points
- 2 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, +7 goal differential
2. USA: 3 points
- 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, +1 goal differential
3. Panama: 3 points
- 1 win, 0 draws, 1 loss, -1 goal differential
4. Bolivia: 0 points
- 0 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses, -7 goal differential
According to BetMGM, these are the odds for Monday night’s match: United States +150; Draw +210; Uruguay +195. The over/under for goals is 2.5.
According to the latest BetMGM odds, Argentina (+125) remain the favorites to win the 2024 Copa America, followed by Brazil (+275), Uruguay (+400) and Colombia (+600). The odds for the USMNT to win the 2024 Copa America are +2500.
Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez (-135) is the favorite to score the most goals in the 2024 Copa America, according to BetMGM. He is followed by Brazil’s Vinicius Junior (+200), Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez (+250), Argentina’s Lionel Messi (+1200) and Julián Álvarez (+1200).
FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas believes that U.S. men’s soccer coach Gregg Berhalter will be coaching for his job on Monday night against Uruguay.
The USMNT suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat against Panama on Thursday night, leaving the team on the brink of an unthinkable group-stage exit at the Copa América.
For ex-USMNT defender Lalas, Monday’s game in Kansas City is now make-or-break for the embattled boss. But he didn’t necessarily view that as a negative, given the match also provides the coach with an opportunity to achieve a long-awaited signature win.
“But there’s a strange part of me that said, ‘You know what? All chips in, all right?’” Lalas said. “We talked so much about this tournament being an assessment of this team, an assessment of head coach Gregg Berhalter relative to getting out of the group and playing against the likes of Colombia and Brazil. But you know what? That challenge and that assessment — that ultimate assessment — is now going to happen in the third game against Uruguay.
“They better be up for it.”
— Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
USMNT roster
Goalkeepers (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/Wales), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/Canada), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/England)
Defenders (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/Scotland), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/Italy), Mark McKenzie (Genk/Belgium), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham/England), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany)
Midfielders (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/Spain), Weston McKennie (Juventus/Italy), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; Italy), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest/England), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)
Forwards (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/Germany), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/France), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Italy), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England), Tim Weah (Juventus/Italy), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England)
Uruguay roster
Goalkeepers (3): Sergio Rochet (Internacional/Brazil), Santiago Mele (Junior de Barranquilla/Colombia), Franco Israel (Sporting Clube/Portugal)
Defenders (9): Ronald Araújo (Barcelona/Spain), José Giménez (Atlético Madrid/Spain), Nicolás Marichal (Dynamo Moscow/Russia), Matías Viña (Flamengo/Brazil), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar/Russia), Mathías Olivera (Napoli/Italy), Sebastián Cáceres (Club América/Mexico), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo/Brazil), Nahitan Nández (Cagliari/Italy)
Midfielders (8): Maximiliano Araújo (Toluca/Mexico), Manuel Ugarte (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham/England, Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/Spain), Emiliano Martínez (Midtjylland/Denmark), Nicolás de la Cruz (Flamengo/Brazil), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo/Brazil), Agustín Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense/Brazil)
Forwards (6): Brian Rodríguez (Club América/Mexico), Brian Ocampo (Cádiz/Spain), Facundo Pellistri (Granada/Spain), Cristian Olivera (Los Angeles FC/USA), Darwin Núñez (Liverpool/England), Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF/USA)
In all, there are 41 Major League Soccer players on rosters for Copa America teams.
Of the league’s 29 teams, 21 will be represented in the tournament. Minnesota United FC and CF Montréal lead with the most players on Copa America rosters with four apiece. Canada has the most MLS players with 14.
Argentina
- Lionel Messi, forward, Inter Miami CF
Canada
- Ali Ahmed, midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Moïse Bombito, defender, Colorado Rapids
- Mathieu Choinière, midfielder, CF Montréal
- Maxime Crépeau, goalkeeper, Portland Timbers
- Kyle Hiebert, defender, St. Louis City SC
- Richie Laryea, defender, Toronto FC
- Kamal Miller, defender, Portland Timbers
- Tani Oluwaseyi, forward, Minnesota United FC
- Jonathan Osorio, midfielder, Toronto FC
- Samuel Piette, midfielder, CF Montréal
- Jacen Russell-Rowe, forward, Columbus Crew
- Jacob Shaffelburg, forward, Nashville SC
- Dayne St. Clair, goalkeeper, Minnesota United FC
- Joel Waterman, defender, CF Montréal
Costa Rica
- Alejandro Bran, midfielder, Minnesota United FC
- Julio Cascante, defender, Austin FC
- Ariel Lassiter, midfielder, CF Montréal
Ecuador
- Carlos Gruezo, midfielder, San Jose Earthquakes
Jamaica
- Jon Bell, defender, Seattle Sounders FC
- Andre Blake, goalkeeper, Philadelphia Union
- Kevon Lambert, midfielder, Real Salt Lake
- Damion Lowe, defender, Philadelphia Union
Panama
- Coco Carrasquilla, midfielder, Houston Dynamo FC
- Aníbal Godoy, midfielder, Nashville SC
- Carlos Harvey, midfielder, Minnesota United FC
- Omar Valencia, defender, New York Red Bulls
Paraguay
- Carlos Coronel, goalkeeper, New York Red Bulls
- Andrés Cubas, midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Matías Rojas, midfielder, Inter Miami CF
Peru
- Luis Abram, defender, Atlanta United
- Miguel Araujo, defender, Portland Timbers
- Wilder Cartagena, midfielder, Orlando City SC
- Pedro Gallese, goalkeeper, Orlando City SC
United States
- Sean Johnson, goalkeeper, Toronto FC
- Shaq Moore, defender, Nashville SC
- Miles Robinson, defender, FC Cincinnati
Uruguay
- Cristian Olivera, forward, Los Angeles FC
- Luis Suárez, forward, Inter Miami CF
Venezuela
- José Martínez, midfielder, Philadelphia Union
- Dani Pereira, midfielder, Austin FC
CONMEBOL Copa América, or the American cup, is the world’s oldest running continental tournament, dating to 1916. It is used to determine the champion of South America, but select teams from North America and Asia have been invited to compete since the 1990s. This year, the 10 CONMEBOL teams will be joined by six Concacaf teams.
This summer’s edition will be the 48th tournament and only the second time it has ever been held outside of South America. The United States also hosted Copa América Centenario in 2016, a special edition of the tournament to commemorate 100 years of CONMEBOL and Copa América.
The tournament is now held every four years, coinciding with the UEFA European Championship. Defending champions Argentina and Uruguay have won Copa América 15 times each, most of any country followed by Brazil (nine, last in 2019).
— Safid Deen
The Copa América is the oldest and longest-running continental soccer competition, crowning the South American men’s champion.
Of its 47 previous editions, all but one have been held in South America. Just like it did in 2016, the United States will serve as the host for a special edition of the Copa América.
There are two big reasons why the tournament is being held in the U.S. in 2024.
— Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
The roster for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game was announced by the league on Monday.
The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be played against a team of LIGA MX standouts at Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on July 24. That’s just 10 days after the Copa America 2024 final, and two days before MLS and LIGA MX clubs begin Leagues Cup 2024.
Goalkeepers:
- Roman Bürki, St. Louis City SC (coach’s selection)
- Hugo Lloris, Los Angeles FC (coach’s selection)
- Maarten Paes, FC Dallas (voted in)
Defenders:
- Jordi Alba, Inter Miami CF (voted in)
- Rudy Camacho, Columbus Crew (coach’s selection)
- Justen Glad, Real Salt Lake (voted in)
- Aaron Herrera, D.C. United (voted in)
- Thiago Martins, New York City FC (coach’s selection)
- Steven Moreira, Columbus Crew (coach’s selection)
- Luca Orellano, FC Cincinnati (coach’s selection)
- Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati (voted in)
- Keegan Rosenberry, Colorado Rapids (coach’s selection)
Midfielders:
- Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati (voted in)
- Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami CF (voted in)
- Mathieu Choinière, CF Montréal (coach’s selection)
- Evander, Portland Timbers (coach’s selection)
- Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (coach’s selection)
- Héctor Herrera, Houston Dynamo FC (commissioner’s pick)
- Robin Lod, Minnesota United FC (coach’s selection)
- Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC (coach’s selection)
- Darlington Nagbe, Columbus Crew (commissioner’s pick)
- Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy (voted in)
Forwards:
- Cristian “Chicho” Arango, Real Salt Lake (voted in)
- Christian Benteke, D.C. United (voted in)
- Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC (coach’s selection)
- Denis Bouanga, Los Angeles FC (coach’s selection)
- Juan “Cucho” Hernández, Columbus Crew (coach’s selection)
- Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF (voted in)
- Luis Suárez, Inter Miami CF (voted in)
- Diego Rossi, Columbus Crew (coach’s selection)
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