The U.S. men's national team crashed out of the Copa America in the group stages on Monday, losing 1-0 to Uruguay at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.
The tournament hosts played with plenty of intensity throughout the match and managed to narrowly outdo Uruguay in possession, but even an encouraging first half showed signs of trouble. While the U.S. limited Uruguay to zero shots on target, they took just one shot before halftime -- a troubling figure for the team that was in desperate need of goals.
A disciplined first half turned into a sloppy second half, though, as the USMNT's search for a goal became frenzied. It did not help that Panama, who they were tied on points with before kickoff, had taken the lead against Bolivia but the latter's equalizer offered a reprieve midway through the second half. USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter thrust each of his pointer fingers up to tell his players that the score in the other game was 1-1, putting them back in second place.
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That hope was short-lived, though, as Uruguay scored the game's lone goal just seconds later. Mathias Olivera scored a header off a set piece in the 66th minute, the goal surviving a lengthy VAR check that indicated that Chris Richards kept him onside on the play. The U.S. mad dash for a goal felt even more haphazard from there, and in the end, they managed just 0.58 expected goals from eight shots.
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The refereeing was also a constant spot of bother for both teams throughout the match, as Peru's Kevin Ortega seemed unwilling to keep a chippy game at bay. He handed out three yellow cards but let several big challenges slide and also made an unusual choice by choosing to play advantage in Uruguay's favor while handing a yellow card to the U.S.' Richards in the first half. Several players also picked up injuries because of the physical nature of the game -- Uruguay's Maximiliano Araujo exited the game on a stretcher and in a neck brace while the U.S.' Folarin Balogun also came off before the half with a hip issue. American Joe Scally also got hit before the break following a tackle from Darwin Nunez but managed to play much of the second half.
This result, coupled with Panama's eventual 3-1 win over Bolivia, sends the U.S. packing earlier than they had anticipated. The tournament hosts were expected to reach the quarterfinals after being placed in what many considered to be a favorable group, failing to truly impress in any of their three group stage games. The Copa America was meant to serve as a measuring stick for the USMNT ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil, and instead of having a chance to prove their worth against the best of the best, the U.S. faltered against not just a team on the rise in Uruguay but stumbled against the statistically inferior Panama and showed nothing new in their win over Bolivia.
The Copa America experience now calls into question the direction of the USMNT since the 2022 World Cup, with many arguing that the team has made little progress since that tournament. The early exit will also inspire a new round of criticism for Berhalter, whose seat will no doubt be hotter as a result.
Are the USMNT through?
No.
Final scores
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The USMNT officially lose 1-0 to Uruguay and coupled with their 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday, they are officially out of the Copa America in the group stage. The team failed to live up to the expectations, being placed in a favorable group and entering the tournament with eyes on a quarterfinal spot. Gregg Berhalter's team, though, did not ever put out a solid enough performance at this competition and so they crash out of the tournament. It's a lasting stain on the team's record since Berhalter took over in 2019, and will linger as their next big game does not arrive until they begin the 2026 World Cup.
90'+2 The USMNT are back at it in Uruguay's box and Christian Pulisic has another promising opportunity, but he sends it over the bar. It is one of those nights for the U.S. and though they have not quit yet, it's really feeling like a win is out of reach at this point.
The fourth official indicates there will be six minutes of stoppage time to close this one out, giving the USMNT a little bit more time to score not one but two goals and save their Copa America campaign.
90' Tim Ream comes off for Malik Tillman amidst the USMNT's late charge at goal, while Uruguay plans to kill this game off by bringing on Suarez and Caceres for Nunez and Ugarte.
87' The frenzied tone of the game continues on, with Christian Pulisic kicking off a play that ends with Haji Wright taking a shot inside the box but there's a deflection. It's enough for Uruguay to survive that play, as they have all night long.
Substitute Cesar Yanis grabs a third for Panama in stoppage time, which feels like a victory lap. It does not necessarily change things for the USMNT -- they still need a win to advance and with just minutes to go, two goals feels like an uphill battle.
82' With just minutes left to preserve their Copa America campaign, the USMNT have spent the last several minutes in and around Uruguay's penalty area. It hasn't translated into too many quality shots yet as both teams engage in a frenzied finish. Josh Sargent gets as close as anyone to scoring in this stretch, but his shot is sent out for a corner that the visitors are able to handle with relative ease.
79' The USMNT throw another attacker into this game, with Haji Wright coming on for the battered Joe Scally. Uruguay, meanwhile, opt to go slightly defensive -- Rodrigo Bentancur comes on for Nicolas de la Cruz.
75' The USMNT are naturally looking for an equalizer but the shots have not really come off, most recently with Christian Pulisic hesitating despite having a promising shot on the edge of the penalty area. The USMNT have just three shots tonight and 0.12 expected goals.
Eduardo Guerrero restores Panama's lead with about 10 minutes plus stoppage time left on the clock, worsening the USMNT's problems tonight. The U.S. now need to win if the result holds in Orlando -- a draw will not be enough.
72' USMNT head coach Gregg Berhlater makes an attack-minded change, switching on Josh Sargent for Yunus Musah and adding an extra attacker in the process. Jose Maria Gimenez, meanwhile, comes on for Matias Vina for Uruguay.
66' Mathías Olivera notches Uruguay's first shot on target with a header off a set piece and though the visitors get to celebrate, there's a VAR check. It's a long check in which Olivera looks offside on a few angles, but the refereeing team says the goal stands. That's bad news for the USMNT -- they now sit at three points, one point behind Panama.
With less than half an hour to go before their Copa America exit, Bolivia have their first goal of the tournament at long last. Bruno Miranda gets the goal after a lengthy VAR check, offering the USMNT a lifeline in the process. It brings Panama back down to four points -- level with the USMNT in that regard, but behind them on the tiebreakers.
61' The USMNT keep Uruguay away from goal, with Robinson and Ream delivering some clearances to keep Uruguay at zero shots on target with less than a half-hour to go. That said, the U.S. have been unable to develop any real attacking rhythm as forward runs die before they even build any promise. That might not be the only bad news for the USMNT today -- Richards seems to be limping, indicative of a very physical game for both teams.
56' Head coach Gregg Berhalter has instructed Shaq Moore to get ready as Joe Scally receives treatment. Scally opts to play on, though the awkward kick from Darwin Nunez in the first half might still be bothering him. Moore sits back down for now.
53' Reyna and Robinson connect on the left wing and force a throw-in, which results in another promising moment in the penalty area but the U.S. are not able to get a shot off. They are still stuck at just two shots today, only one of which hit the target.
50' It is not been the most efficient night up top for Uruguay so far, but Vina takes a shot that forces the U.S. to send it out for a corner. The attempt on the set piece is also threatening, but the USMNT are able to keep themselves out of trouble.
47' The U.S.' first promising chance of the second half comes courtesy of McKennie, who's on the edge of the penalty area and has a good shot in front of him. There's an Uruguay defender applying pressure, though, and so McKennie skies the ball rather than putting it on frame.
Play resumes in Kansas City between the USMNT in Uruguay, while Panama and Bolivia are already back in action in Orlando. The U.S. now have just 45 minutes to stay alive in the Copa America -- and goals are needed to keep them in the competition.
While the players have generated plenty of big moments in the first half, perhaps no person stole the spotlight more than referee Kevin Ortega of Peru. He was the youngest referee at the 2022 World Cup at just 30 years old and does not shy away from pulling out yellow and red cards. In 253 career games as a referee, he's handed out 1,372 yellow cards -- averaging 5.4 yellow cards per game -- as well as 47 red cards and 128 penalties.
He brings some chaotic energy based on those stats and his inexperience seems to be showing in this one, with several harsh tackles going unpunished in the first half. His strange call to play advantage for Uruguay while handing out a yellow card also raised eyebrows.
A draw is not helping the USMNT much right now with Panama's advantage over Bolivia at the break, but the tournament hosts have come out strong in the first 45. They played an even game in terms of possession and made several runs at goal, and also did well to limit Uruguay to zero shots on goal. The USMNT have just one shot so far, though, and will need to step things up in the final third to keep their Copa America hopes alive.
45'+4 Darwin Nunez goes in for the foul and tackles Joe Scally, who falls down to the ground. He's laying there for about a minute before the referee notices and signals the medical team, instead caught up with finding Nunez so he can show him the yellow card.
45' Uruguay are hovering around the U.S. goal, pressing for the opening goal of the game. So far, the USMNT have been able to resist their charge -- Matt Turner was able to clear a ball, while the defensive effort as a whole has been strong enough to keep Uruguay at bay. Meanwhile, the fourth official surprisingly only puts up five minutes of stoppage time despite several lengthy stoppages in the first half.
42' The USMNT are about to build another promising move via counterattack as Uruguay relinquish possession, but instead of letting the hosts play advantage, the referee ends the play by calling a handball on Uruguay. It leads USMNT captain Christian Pulisic to scream at the referee as he begrudgingly restarts play.
40' Folarin Balogun tries to continue after the collision several minutes ago but it's clear he's not fit enough to stay on the pitch. He comes off for Ricardo Pepi, which is disappointing because Balogun has been one of the USMNT's bright spots so far this competition -- he scored two goals in the opening two games of the Copa America, bolstering his case as the team's starting forward.
39' Uruguay earn a freekick and after Cristian Olivera earns the ball on the left flank and cuts it back with Joe Scally nearby, he makes a cross into the box. Darwin Nunez is in pole position to score from close range, but sends the ball just wide of the goal. He's on a seven-game scoring streak for the national team and will no doubt want to make it eight.
35' The USMNT look to hurt Uruguay on a counterattack but Ronald Araujo goes in for a tackle on Folarin Balogun and comes out with an injury concern himself. He's receiving treatment now and Uruguay are playing with 10, a lot of stoppage time no doubt in store before the break.
33' Richards commits a foul on De La Cruz near the halfway line and is quickly given a yellow card. While the referee hands out a yellow card, though, he unconventionally lets Uruguay continue playing and the visitors are nearly in on goal before Nandez's shot is blocked by Ream. With that yellow, Richards would miss the USMNT's next match, should they progress.
29' Moments after Maximilliano Araujo comes off, we have another injury stoppage. The USMNT are going for goal and Gio Reyna passes to Folarin Balogun, who is offside and unable to score. Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet goes to collect the ball and collides with Balogun, both of whom receive treatment from the medical teams. Rochet is up more quickly than Balogun but he's now standing and seems intent on returning to play.
25' Tim Ream and Maximiliano Araujo go down after colliding on a corner and while Ream is fine, Araujo is down and receives treatment for several minutes. He leaves the game on a stretcher and in a neck brace, as well as a suspected concussion. He comes off and Cristian Olivera enters the field in his place.
