Gold Cup round table: Should the United States fear Canada or Mexico more?

After that, for the national team for the American men, there is a quarter -final of the Concacaf Cup against Costa Rica on Sunday (7 pm Easter on FOX).

To summarize their group stage. 5-0 victory from Trinidad and Tobago, followed by 1-0 victory over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (a team called for the championship) and then an amusing victory 2-1 over Haiti.

These are not the biggest victory, but that is good. The way the United States entered the tournament amid a drama of the players here (and not), any positive momentum of coach Mauricio Pochettino and his crew was welcome.

So, what are the players who achieved the maximum benefit from the 2026 World Cup next summer? Can the United States finish this gold cup as winners?

Here is the emergence of the group stage of the gold cup and what is for a quarter of the quarter -finals at the end of this week.

Which USMnt player who provided the best case for the World Cup?

Macintire: The owner of Telman, undoubtedly. Three years after the 2022 World Cup list when he was 20 years old, Tillaman began in 2025 as a currency heart next summer. But with three goals in this three gold Cup matches, it calls for a starting point in the main event – even when the regulations like Christian Polisic, Tim and Wah. It seems that the Hariri striker is perfectly suitable for occupying a central role in the game industry between Polisic and Weah-a job that Jio Reina has sometimes filed because of the appearance of Tillaman in the United States this month is more bad news for Rina, which did not play in any of Borussia Dortmund matches in the FIFA World Cup. But it is great for Tillman and USMnt.

Litman: Outside Tellman, I would like to say that Sebastian Berhalter raised his profile. He was especially noticeable against Saudi Arabia, where most of his individual battles won and stood up to Tyler Adams when he was pushed to the ground. Berhleter was impressive when it came to setting the pieces as well, as it offers a perfect ball on Chris Richards’s goal in the same match. The specified pieces were a thorn on the USMnt side. In the past, Christian Polisic took them – the comprehensive service was optimal and the Americans did not benefit enough. Meanwhile, Berhalter offers this important skills set that will be important for Mauricio Pochettino to take into account when he studies the choice of the 2026 World Cup menu.

Who was the biggest surprise in the Gold Cup?

Macintire: ISMAEL DIAZ should be in Panama. Diaz scored five goals in the group stage, and Tillaman jumped to the first place in the Golden Boot race with a trick against Jamaica on Tuesday. I know that he also scored a hat hoax in the 2023 Gold Cup, but its production so far is still a surprise.

Litman: It was surprising to see Jamaica eliminated in the group stage. Reggae Boyz 1-2 in the group stage to slip to the third place in the group C. They felt amazingly from Guatemala 1-0 in their first match (after his victory over the same team 3-0 in the previous week) and they were crushed by Panama 4-1 in the third match to conclude their fate.

Mexico and Canada: What has emerged from the largest competitors?

Macintire: I don’t think either seemed invincible, or even all this is good, in this gold cup. LLry has struggled to overcome the Dominican Republic and settled in a tie without goals with the brief Costa Rica team (although my name is added to the list of people who believe the late Golso Santi Gamenies should be counted).

in the meantime , Les Rose It was completely unconvincing since they nullified the Honduras Championship. Canada was unable to overcome Korasaw in its second match, and they were unable to score at the group’s conclusion on Tuesday until Al Salvador was reduced to nine men. They also lose the best player in Captain Alfonso Davis – and perhaps some amazement because of this.

LitmanI will take Canada. From the controversy about director Jesse Marsh, who led to a two-match comment, to the team that connects Korasaw and the beating only Salvador 2-0 when they were two men who did not give good feelings that this team has what is necessary to win. If you are not careful, Canada may be expelled by Guatemala in the quarters this week.

Correct or wrong: Will the United States win the gold cup?

Macitaire: A gruesome mistake. I think the United States exceeds Los Tecos And the progress to the semi -finals on Wednesday against Canada or Guatemala. Overcoming Canada will not be easy, albeit impossible, assuming that it prevails as expected. But overcoming Canada and then Either Panama or Mexico, which would have taken the stadium for the final in front of a sea of ​​green shirts in Houston on July 6, is a little further from an American team missing more than ten senior players. Can it happen? certainly. It happened in 2021. This group, such a group, is narrow of the field and has adopted the momentum on it. If they play their hearts, play together and get back or two, they can win this thing. I just will not bet on it.

Litman: TRUE. UsMnt should overcome Costa Rica in the quarter -finals and lead to half, where he will face the winner of Canada Gatemala. If Canada, the United States has an opportunity to take revenge on the Nations League. If this diverse crew of an American group can combine and do so, they will have momentum to take over the Mexico team in the final match. Play Lipre In front of what might be a pro -Mexico crowd in Houston, it is a challenge, but this is the type of test that the team needs a year before the World Cup. In addition, will the story not be completely if the USMnt meets after all the drama before the tournament and raised the gold cup?

Doug Macinterre is a football correspondent for Fox Sports who covered the national teams of men and women in the United States at the FIFA World Cup on five continents. Follow it @Bydougmcintyre.

Laken Litman covers university football, university basketball and football for Fox Sports. I had previously written for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, USA Toys and Indianapolis Star. It is the author of “Strong Like A”, published in the Spring of 2022 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the ninth title. Follow it in Lakenlitman.

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