KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – The hopes of the U.S. men’s national team were crushed on home soil as they were knocked out of the Copa América at the group stage after a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay. The decisive goal came from Mathías Olivera in the 66th minute, following a contentious VAR review for offside that left the U.S. team protesting fiercely.
Needing a win to advance to the next stage of the tournament after Panama beat Bolivia 3-1, the U.S. team faced Uruguay, one of the pre-tournament favorites. The loss marked the first time in history that the USMNT has been eliminated at the group stage of a senior men’s tournament that it hosted.
The Americans, missing the suspended Tim Weah and losing Folarin Balogun to injury in the first half, struggled to gain momentum. The match was marred by questionable calls from Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega, which impacted the flow of play and hindered the U.S. team’s chances.
Despite a few promising runs and opportunities in front of the goal, the U.S. team failed to find the back of the net, ultimately finishing third in their group with three points. The Copa América served as a significant test for the U.S. team ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
The tournament exit highlighted areas for improvement for the USMNT as they look ahead to future competitions. It also underscored the challenges of facing top international teams and the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities in high-stakes matches.
As the U.S. team reflects on their early exit from the Copa América, they will need to regroup and focus on strengthening their squad for future tournaments. The disappointment of falling short in front of their home crowd will serve as motivation for the team to bounce back and strive for success in upcoming competitions.