The vibe around American soccer right now is... complicated. Honestly, if you just look at the raw USA soccer team results from the last year, you might think we’re coasting. But there is a massive difference between the Men's and Women's sides right now, and the "results" don't always tell the full story.
We are less than six months away from the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The pressure is suffocating.
USMNT: The Mauricio Pochettino Rollercoaster
When Mauricio Pochettino took over the Men’s National Team (USMNT) in late 2024, the mandate was simple: stop losing to teams we should beat. He inherited a mess after the Copa América disaster. Since then, the record has been a bit of a mixed bag—roughly 10 wins, 7 losses, and a draw over his first 18-ish matches.
People see a loss to Mexico or a shaky 2-1 win over Paraguay and start panicking. You’ve probably seen the Twitter meltdowns. But look closer at the November 2025 window.
That 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay in Tampa? That was the statement. Uruguay isn't a "gimme" game. That was a demolition of a top-tier South American power. Pochettino is basically using these friendlies as high-stakes laboratories. He has capped 59 different players in a year. That is an insane amount of turnover, but he's looking for the "dogs" who won't blink when the World Cup lights hit SoFi Stadium in June.
Recent Men’s Results (The Games That Actually Mattered)
- November 18, 2025: USA 5, Uruguay 1. A total clinical performance.
- November 15, 2025: USA 2, Paraguay 1. Gritty, ugly, but a win.
- September 9, 2025: USA 2, Japan 0. Professionalism at its best.
- July 6, 2025: Mexico 2, USA 1 (Gold Cup Final). This one stung. Losing a trophy to your rival is never "just a process."
The USMNT is currently sitting on a 2026 World Cup schedule that starts June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. If they play like they did in the Gold Cup final, it’s going to be a short summer. If they play like they did against Uruguay? We might actually make a run.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
The USWNT is Just Winning (Again)
While the men are "finding themselves," Emma Hayes has turned the Women’s National Team (USWNT) back into a meat grinder. They finished 2025 with a 12-3-0 record.
Twelve wins. Three losses. Zero draws.
The crazy part isn't just the winning—it's the youth. Hayes is basically playing "Football Manager" in real life. In 2025, over half of the team's goals involved a player under the age of 25. We’re talking about Ally Sentnor, Olivia Moultrie, and Emma Sears.
The USA soccer team results for the women in late 2025 were dominant. They capped off the year with back-to-back shutouts against Italy (3-0 and 2-0). Italy isn't some basement dweller; they're a top-15 team in the world.
Breaking Down the Hayes Record
Honestly, Emma Hayes doesn't seem to care about the three losses they took in 2025 (to Japan, Brazil, and Portugal). She told reporters she’s "not zoomed in" on those results because she’s rotating the roster so heavily.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
She used 44 different players last year. Think about that. Most national teams have a set 15 or 16 players they rely on. Hayes is building a roster three layers deep. By the time the 2027 World Cup in Brazil rolls around, this team is going to be terrifyingly experienced.
Why the Scorelines Can Be Deceiving
The biggest mistake fans make when searching for USA soccer team results is ignoring the "why."
Take the USMNT’s 2-0 loss to South Korea in September 2025. On paper, it looks bad. In reality? Pochettino played a lineup that had an average of about 16 caps per player. It was a B-team. He was testing his depth.
Conversely, the USWNT's 6-0 blowout of New Zealand in October wasn't just a win; it was a showcase for Emma Sears, who bagged a hat trick. These games aren't about the three points in the standings—they are about who survives the cut for the 26-man (or woman) roster.
Key Stats from the 2025 Season
| Metric | USMNT (Men) | USWNT (Women) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Wins | 10 | 12 |
| Top Scorer | Christian Pulisic | Catarina Macario (8 goals) |
| New Debuts | 17 | 16 |
| Clean Sheets | 6 | 10 |
What’s Actually Next?
We are entering the "Send-Off" phase. For the men, the schedule is terrifyingly good preparation. They’ve got Belgium and Portugal coming up in March 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Then Germany at Soldier Field in June.
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
If the USA soccer team results in those matches are poor, expect the media to go into a full-blown panic. But Pochettino has been through the Premier League and Champions League ringer. He’s not going to change his high-pressing style just to eke out a 0-0 draw in a friendly.
For the women, the 2026 SheBelieves Cup is the big focus. They’ll be facing Argentina, Canada, and Colombia in March. It’s a chance to avenge their 2025 loss to Japan and prove they are still the #1 team in the world (even if FIFA currently ranks them at #2).
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re trying to keep track of where this program is headed, don’t just look at the score.
- Watch the First 15 Minutes: Under both Hayes and Pochettino, the US is trying to score early. In 2025, the USWNT scored 24 of their 41 goals in the first half. If they aren't pressing high and creating chances by the 20th minute, something is wrong with the tactical setup.
- Monitor the "Fullback" Situation: This is the USMNT's Achilles heel. Keep an eye on the results in games where Antonee Robinson isn't playing. The drop-off is noticeable.
- The "Big Three" Health: For the women, the results live and die by the health of Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith. When all three are on the pitch, the USWNT is basically unbeatable.
- Ignore the FIFA Rankings: The USMNT is hovering around the top 15-20, while the USWNT is top 2. These don't matter as much as "Elo" ratings, which currently suggest the Men's team is slightly overvalued and the Women's team is undervalued.
The road to the 2026 World Cup is officially in the home stretch. The results are starting to matter less than the chemistry. We’ve seen enough "potential" over the last four years; now we need to see a settled starting XI that can actually compete with the elite.
Upcoming Crucial Matches:
- USWNT vs. Paraguay: Jan 24, 2026 (Carson, CA)
- USMNT vs. Belgium: March 28, 2026 (Atlanta, GA)
- USMNT World Cup Opener vs. Paraguay: June 12, 2026 (Los Angeles, CA)
The era of experimentation is ending. It’s time to see if this massive investment in world-class coaching actually pays off when the world is watching.