27 Mar 2026

Minutes from the Committee Meeting

March 27, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 33

It’s the final international window before the long awaited 2026 World Cup in North America. This week, we’ll pivot in the men’s international window to check the barometer on the U.S.

USMNT Vibe Check:

Entering the final international window, the vibes around the USMNT are…solid?

Look, if you’re reading this newsletter, you likely understand that the U.S. isn’t winning this World Cup. You also, however, know how nasty the discourse got during the Berhalter era, and how quickly that toxicity reawakened in 2025 when Pochettino’s side began struggling against Concacaf competition.

Since September, that USMNT-related anxiety—an infliction on the fanbase since the team missed the 2018 World Cup—has slowly been melting away. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s change to a back five in the first match of the September camp led to five consecutive impressive outings in a row, culminating in a 5-1 romp against Uruguay led largely by his reserves.

So here we are, four months since the last match, and less than three months until the World Cup kicks off. The U.S. faces off over the next week against two European powers, Belgium and Portugal. If they again fail to impress against European powers, you can expect a lot of hot takes and hand wringing.

If they look good, expect “quarterfinals or bust” to be the mantra for this summer.

What We're Excited About:

We’ll leave the tactical detail to our Soccerwise episodes and Soccerwise co-host Matt Doyle (check out his preview in this week’s Tactics Free Zone).

One of the things we like to do here is talk about the things we’re about. So here are three!

Max Arfsten: If you don’t know Max Arfsten, you should. Not only does the Columbus Crew wingback feature some impeccable hair, he’s arguably the most impactful 1v1 dribbler in MLS who isn’t also the greatest player of all time. With Sergino Dest out, Arfsten will be the USMNT’s go-to ankle breaker.
Striker Options!: A preponderance of strikers? Too many strikers? Those who’ve been in the trenches of USMNT fandom for the past few decades can finally rest easy knowing our striker position has gone from perpetual Achilles heel to a position of strength.
Weston + Christian: The last time the USMNT featured as accomplished of a star tandem was 2010, when Dempsey and Donovan featured for Bob Bradley’s side. With significantly more balance across the roster, we’ll be watching closely to see whether Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic can embrace their starring roles heading into the summer.

What We're Excited About...Maybe Being Excited About:

There are three more things that maybe we’re excited about, and these matches may determine that direction:

The American James Rodriguez: To echo a line repeated by Matt Doyle across the Kickback Soccer Media echosystem…Gio Reyna is the most talented American men’s soccer player ever. He also doesn’t seem to ever play for his club, either due to injuries or permanent bench affixation. That being said, the guy tends to ball out when he puts on the U.S. jersey. Perhaps the U.S. has discovered their own James Rodriguez?
Good Kits: The 2022 World Cup kit fiasco definitely set a low bar, but initial imagery coming back from the new USMNT kits seems to promise the best selection in over a decade. Seeing the full kits in action, however, will be important for making a final determination.
Berhalter, 2026 USMNT Star: Sebastian, the son of former USMNT Head Coach Gregg, has been on fire to start the 2026 MLS season. The central midfielder offers passing range, tenacity, and is increasing the frequency of his goal contributions. As arguably the best set piece taker outside of Gio Reyna, one has to wonder is Sebastian doesn’t win starting consideration over the course of the window.

Prediction Time:

U.S. 1 - 2 Belgium: Pochettino runs out his current favorites for the starting eleven, but the lack of experience playing together see them fall two behind in the first half. Substitutes at halftime right the ship, and a late goal is scored to make the performance respectable
U.S. 2 - 1 Portugal: Some light rotation sees the U.S. take to the match from the onset, and upset one of the World’s most ballyhooed sides. Discourse ensues.

Action Items, Kickback:

Soccerwise: Make sure you follow and subscribe to Soccerwise for our weekly USMNT segments and our special review/preview show for this Tuesday’s match against Portugal!

You can also listen to Soccerwise now on SiriusXM, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 p.m. on SiriusXM FC 157, and on the SiriusXM App!

Kickback Committee: It’s Matt Doyle week at Kickback Committee, as he joins host Susannah Fuller to discuss the international friendlies and the news across the soccer world.

First Touch: Episode five is now out! Make sure to subscribe and listen to the first ever World Cup 2026 dedicated show, First Touch! Inspired by podcasts with premium, rich storytelling like The Daily and Planet Money, this is Kickback Soccer Media’s most unique offering yet.