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Is The USMNT Ready To Beat The World’s Best?

Jackson Fyda / Soccer / October 13, 2023

Weston McKennie believes that the USMNT can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best teams. (Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports)

Is The USMNT Ready To Beat The World’s Best?

The rapid improvement of the U.S. Men’s National Team in recent years has been nothing short of incredible. After missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the attention turned to the younger generation led by Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie.

Now, after a good showing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and recent domination in CONCACAF, is the USMNT ready to not just compete with the world’s best teams, but to beat them?

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Juventus midfielder McKennie believes that they are.

“We always compared ourselves in terms of, you know, we wanted to compete with top-level countries,” McKennie said. “We expect ourselves to win these games now instead of just competing with them.”

The USMNT will have a chance to prove McKennie right on Saturday as they clash with the soccer powerhouse nation of Germany in East Stamford, Conn.

The Germans are preparing to host the 2024 European Championship this summer. After a horrendous run of form in friendlies leading up to the Euros, former head coach Hansi Flick was sacked and replaced with the ever-so-popular Julian Nagelsmann. The matchup against the U.S. will be Nagelsmann’s first match in charge of the German national team.

Despite Germany’s recent struggles, they are still an elite national team with world-class players like Barcelona midfielder İlkay Gündoğan plus Bayern Munich duo Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich suiting up for the national team.

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This game provides the U.S. with an opportunity to make a statement that they can beat the world’s best, an opportunity that McKennie hopes the Stars and Stripes can capitalize on.

“It’s a great opportunity to kind of see where we’re at,” McKennie said. “And [to] win these type of games because [they are] the type of games that we have to win to advance the program forward, to advance ourselves forward and to be successful in the coming years.”

The matchup against Germany will be the first of two friendlies for the USMNT this international break. They will also take on Ghana on Oct. 17 in Nashville as Gregg Berhalter’s side continues to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be held on home soil.

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