Following the painful and historic defeat against Canada, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) faces an opponent that, at least on paper, seems like an easy target to try to bounce back from their current slump.
Last Saturday, in Kansas, the USMNT lost at home to the Canadian team for the first time in 67 years (1-2), meaning the team is now obligated to get back on track as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Pulisic gets torched by USMNT teammates playing American football
Additionally, the players must respond to the strong comments made by interim coach Mikey Varas, who stated that the team suffers from a “lack of winning mentality.”
“We are honest with each other. I love these guys, but they know that mentality of fighting, running, and sacrificing – I can’t do that for them. That’s up to them,” Varas said after the weekend’s defeat against the Canadians.
On the other hand, New Zealand also lost in a friendly match against Mexico, falling 3-0 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Despite the loss, they showed that they are a team that is not at the level of North American teams, although they remain the favorite to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from the Oceania region.
In the U.S., the U.S. Soccer Federation has delayed naming a new head coach for the team.
Although Mauricio Pochettino‘s name has been circulating as a possibility for several days, no final decision has been made, so Varas will continue as interim coach of the national team.
What Time is the USMNT vs New Zealand Match?
The match will take place on Tuesday, September 10, and will kick off at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
The venue for the match will be TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Where to Watch USMNT vs New Zealand in the United States?
The game will be broadcast live in Spanish on Universo, and in English on TNT, TruTV, Max, and via streaming on Peacock.
