There is a sense, in the aftermath of this year's Copa America, a sense that all was not well with the venerable festival of South American football, hosted by the USA for a second time following on from the Copa America Centenario in 2016 (a special edition in marking the tournament's centenary as well as that of CONMEBOL itself- as well as the first one played on non-native soil thanks to an agreement with CONCACAF).
Fast forward to 2024 and the argument could be made, with all three hosts of the next World Cup- the US, Canada and Mexico present if not quite correct, that this was something of a dry run for when the wider footballing community sets course for the US/ Mexican/Canadian 2026 coalition.
On which basis it must be said that the States somewhat blew the audition in failing to make it out of Group C. As an opening 2-0 win over Bolivia, the goals from Christian Pulisic and former England youth international Folarin Balogun, was followed by reverses to Panama and a now Marcelo Bielsa- led Uruguay. Matheus Olivera's winner putting them out of their misery and leaving USA coach Gregg Berhalter, who had probably been skating on thin ice anyway in the aftermath of an outcry against an admission that he had kicked his now-wife as a younger man, out of a job. US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker decided the show was finally over and president Cindy Parlow Cone issued a brisk statement.
"I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and our Men's National Team . We are now focused on working with our Sporting Director Matt Crocker and leveraging his experience at the highest levels of the sport to ensure we find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of on-field success."
Crocker himself also weighed in, with the implication that the hunt was on for someone to lead them into their second World Cup on home soil.
"U.S. Soccer is committed to doing what is necessary to ensure our success on the pitch and we are dedicated to fostering a culture that leads to winning. Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximise our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process."
El Loco wasn't exactly happy about the state of things Stateside either, though for vastly different reasons! Quoted in the New York Times, he let rip.
“All of the lies that they’ve told. They do press conferences and say ‘no, the fields are perfect, the training pitches are perfect.’… I have all the photos that show that these are all lies.
This is a plague of liars. Now, I’ve already said everything I promised (organisers and the federation) I wouldn’t say. These are all punishments coming.
These are all errors that were known beforehand,” he continued. “The North Americans don’t say — ‘you’re going to get a perfect pitch.’
They tell you ‘we’ll give you a field installed three days ago, or (x) amount of days ago.’ … The training pitches were a disaster.
“They do a press conference and say it’s an optical illusion. Vinicius (Junior) can’t see. That (Lionel) Scaloni shouldn’t talk. That the training pitches are all perfect when we all have a collection of the (bad pitches).”
Argentina manager Scaloni was similarly scathing after his side's opening Group A win over Canada, Lautaro Martinez and Julián Álvarez the scorers. Clearly bouncing after keeper Emi Martinez had branded the pitch at Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium a trampoline, Scaloni adding to that in emphatically laying out that it was “not up to standard for these players”.
Despite their opening defeat, it's the Canadians who emerge from this latest Copa with the most credit, before taking on the junior partner role alongside their more illustrious neighbours!
New gaffer Jesse Marsch's first tournament in charge, came relatively soon after taking the job. But, following their opening loss, Jonathan David's goal handed them a first win against Peru in their belated debut in the competition. (They were originally invited to take part in the 2001 tournament in Colombia but withdrew.)
Rounding the group stage off with a stalemate against Chile, they then held their nerve to slide past Venezuela, 4-3 on penalties, in the quarter- finals, to set up a repeat of their opening group match in the semis. Argentina prevailed again to send them into the third place play-off and another group stage rematch against Uruguay, the Uruguayans snatching it on penalties as Canada finished fourth.
So, there’s much to build on as they look ahead to a third World Cup. Their first, in 1986, ending with them failing to secure a single point at the bottom of Group C after losses to France, Hungary and what was then the Soviet Union.
It was a similar story at their second, with 2022's jaunt to Qatar ending in last place in Group F, albeit they showed promise. The first game had ended in a narrow defeat by Belgium, after the Canadians had them on the rack. An early goal from Alphonso Davies might have given them a sliver of hope before Croatia hit back with four of their own in their second game, before Morocco finished them off en route to an eventual third place play-off loss to Croatia.
What, then, of Mexico? They kicked off Group B at Copa America 2024 respectably enough, with a 1-0 win over Jamaica, thanks to a goal from Gerardo Arteaga prior to the wheels falling off. Defeat by Venezuela and a closing draw with Ecuador ensured a limp end to proceedings for El Tricolor. Manager Jaime Lozano dismissed in the fallout and Javier Aguirre now back for a third spell in charge prior to the country's hat-trick appearance as World Cup hosts.
The quarter-finals at both the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, when the hosting spotlight was solely on them, remain their best ever performances. Hopes for a repeat, or better, in 2026 must now feel like a distant prospect.