The United States gave up four goals in the first half and looked unprepared for next year’s World Cup, as they were routed by Switzerland 4-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night. The result means the Americans lost their fourth straight game for the first time since 2007.
Dan Ndoye scored in the 13th minute, Michel Aebischer in the 23rd, Breel Embolo in the 33rd and Johan Manzambi in the 36th.
Switzerland won their third straight match and extended the USMNT’s winless streak against European opponents to eight games since 2021. Fans at Geodis Park booed loudly as the US gave up four goals by the 40th minute for the first time since 9 November 1980, at Mexico and the first time ever at home, according to Opta.
after newsletter promotion
The match was played one year and one day before the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US starts. Going into their Concacaf Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Americans are 5-5 under Mauricio Pochettino, who took over after his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, was fired after the team’s first-round elimination at last year’s Copa América.
Ndoye burst behind Nate Harriel to run on to a through ball for the first goal; Manzambi dribbled past Max Arfsten along the endline to leave Aebischer with a tap-in for the second; goalkeeper Matt Turner spilled Ricardo Rodriguez’s shot to leave Embolo an open net for the third; and a mix-up when Quinn Sullivan passed to Sebastian Berhalter as the former coach’s son slipped created a giveaway that led to Manzambi’s first international goal.
In mitigation, the Americans were missing a number of key players, including Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest.
Turner played his first game for club or country since 23 March. Berhalter started in his debut, and Brenden and Paxten Aaronson became the fourth set of brothers to start for the US, and the first since George and Louis Nanchoff in 1979.
Pochettino made nine changes from Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Turkey, keeping only Arfsten and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The US made five changes to start the second half and Damian Downs made his debut in the 75th minute.
