USA vs. New Zealand: Preview

The USA Men’s National Team kicked off the September international window with a 2-1 loss to rivals Canada. Despite missing key players, the team continued to struggle, following their disappointing performance at last summer’s Copa América.

Mikey Varas remains as interim coach for at least one more match before a new manager is appointed, with Mauricio Pochettino expected to take the helm soon. Their next opponent is New Zealand, a team on the rise, aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in their history. With limited time to build a cohesive unit before the 2026 tournament, every match is crucial in their journey toward success.

New Zealand stands to gain significantly from the expansion of the World Cup, as the Oceania Football Confederation now has at least one automatic spot in the final tournament. As the dominant team in the region, bypassing the inter-confederation playoff removes a major obstacle that hindered their progress in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Ranked 94th by FIFA, the All Whites had an undefeated run in the OFC Nations Cup this summer, a promising sign as they prepare for World Cup qualification next month. Under manager Darren Bazeley, the team is heading in the right direction, though there is still work to be done with a roster that blends seasoned veterans and emerging young talent.

USA vs. New Zealand: Head-to-Head & Team Form

SoccerPhoto byPeter GlaseronUnsplash

This will be the fourth matchup between these two nations, with the United States having secured two wins and one draw in their previous three meetings. The USA has struggled recently, winning just one of their last six matches across all competitions, with four losses and one draw since June.

New Zealand, on the other hand, has not won any of their last eight friendly matches, losing six and drawing two since their 2-1 victory over China in March 2023. The United States has also lost three of its last four friendly matches, with a 1-1 draw against Brazil on June 13 being the only exception.

Although the USA has had a tough time securing wins recently, they will be confident facing a New Zealand team that hasn’t won in their last three encounters. Considering the significant difference in quality and depth between the two teams, we expect the United States to rebound and secure a positive result in this match.

USA vs. New Zealand: Team News

In their friendly against Canada, the USA was without Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, and Tim Weah due to injuries. Cade Cowell was a last-minute addition to the squad because of these injuries and played the final 13 minutes on Saturday. Patrick Schulte made just his second senior appearance as goalkeeper, replacing Matt Turner, while Tim Ream became the first Charlotte FC player to feature in an international match for the team.

Luca de la Torre became the 25th American male player to score his first international goal against Canada on Saturday. Haji Wright has scored half of his goals for the USA in 2024 (2 out of 4), and Christian Pulisic is still aiming to score his 31st goal for the national team, which would move him past Brian McBride into fifth place on the all-time list.

Possible Starting Line Up

USA possible starting lineup: Turner; Scally, Trusty, Richards, Lund; Musah, Morris, Tillman; Sargent, Pepi, Pulisic

New Zealand possible starting lineup: Crocombe, Payne, Boxall, Tuiloma, Cacace; Rufer, Stamenic; Barbarouses, Waine, Just; Wood

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Article originally written by Khush Vardhan Rathi