The U.S. men’s national team has had a tough time against Panama in recent time but needs to put those results to the side ahead of Thursday’s latest encounter.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad faces off with Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, seeking a return to the tournament final. The Americans haven’t enjoyed many winning results against Panama in the last few years, losing in three of their last four competitive matches across three different competitions (Copa America, FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Gold Cup).
However, the USMNT did get back on track against Thomas Christiansen’s squad last October, capturing a 2-0 victory in Pochettino’s first match in charge. Thursday will be Pochettino’s most important match in charge of the program so far and the Argentine revealed his hopes for the latest showdown.
“We want to destroy Panama,” Pochettino said in a press conference this week. “When I say we destroy, it’s in a sport way.”
While the match itself will be centered around the star players for both teams, both countries have been in the news in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, United States President Donald Trump confirmed his plans to reclaim the Panama Canal as part of the country’s national security. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino hit back at Trump, stating that the Canal would not be recovered by the Americans and later calling the 78-year-old “a liar”.
Pochettino didn’t get into detail about the recent issues between the two countries, but urged his team to represent themselves with pride.
“We need to play for us,” Pochettino said. “We need to feel proud to defend our flag and our badge. We need to play for our country, but always on the pitch trying to be better, to beat the opponent. And I think it’s a big mistake if we talk about politics because I think people is not waiting for us to talk in this way.
“That is why I think, always. [It] was my way. That doesn’t mean that I am not strong and I have my values and my vision about the situation, but I think being respectful and being a very clear and a strong guy is….to say nothing and to be focused only to help the player who performs and try to win.”
Should the USMNT win in Los Angeles on Thursday, it will be their first competitive win over Panama since 2022.
