The United States Men’s National Team entered Monday’s Concacaf Nations League showdown against Jamaica at CITYPARK with a clear objective. The Americans didn’t merely want to compete in Leg 2 of their series with the Reggae Boyz. They wanted to win.
Such a sentiment might sound simple—and, yes, obvious. But for a group still finding its footing under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, it was crucial to author a complete performance in their final match together until Nations League action picks up again in March.
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That’s because these Americans are still trying to establish their identity under Pochettino, the former manager of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain of France’s Ligue 1, among other stops. In St. Louis this week, Pochettino managed his first competitive home match since accepting the U.S. job in September. The men’s national team has found trips to our city to its liking over the years—a trend that continued with Monday’s win. A crowd of 21,080 watched as the U.S. stretched its unbeaten streak in St. Louis to 12 consecutive contests. To make the evening even more special, St. Louis native Tim Ream wore the captain’s armband for the U.S. while logging his 68th career appearance for his country.
While Monday’s match mattered for several competitive reasons—the win also qualified the Americans for next summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup—there is a clear sense that the U.S. is still very much in preparation mode under Pochettino. And after the way the Gregg Berhalter era fizzled out, that seems just fine. Even the American Outlaws, the national team’s supporters’ group, prepared a pregame tifo that read, “Rewrite the impossible, the future starts now.” With the 2026 World Cup headed to North America, there is little time to waste.
So in that way, Pochettino’s squad acted fast in making a first impression on St. Louis fans, taking a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute and never letting their advantage dip below two goals the rest of the way. Pochettino, too, made the most of the opportunity to coach his A-squad for one final match this calendar year, adding new wrinkles to his 4-2-3-1 formation.
For example, Jedi Robinson inverted centrally in possession while Tim Weah provided the width in his first start of the new era. Christian Pulisic, meanwhile, enjoyed what felt like acres of space through the middle of the pitch, and Tanner Tessmann and Weston McKennie helped the U.S. enjoy 70 percent possession during the first half.
“I think that we all see the way that we want to play,” Pochettino said of his team’s 3-0 first-half advantage. “I am so pleased with the way that we were able to grow in our journey together. That, to me, is the way that we want to go forward, especially with such a short time period that we’ve gotten to work.”
Although the U.S. led for the duration of the match, Jamaica clawed its way onto the scoreboard in the second half thanks to a pair of goals by Demarai Gray. Pochettino acknowledged that he saw “a lack of mentality” at times during the second half, as the Americans allowed the Reggae Boyz too much space to operate. That, though, will give the new manager a starting point for his next round of lessons when this squad reconvenes in March.
In that sense, Pochettiino considered it a successful outing in St. Louis. His squad accomplished its tasks on the pitch while strengthening their bond off of it. Ream, the U.S. captain, played a significant role on both fronts.
“Tim is an important player for us, not just on the pitch,” Pochettino said. “His experience, his calmness—but also in his role off the pitch. He’s helping the coaching staff in this transition and with his attitude. He’s just so humble”
Ream, for his part, praised Pochettino and the group of players around him for how quickly everyone has gotten on the same page.
“To score three goals in this environment is important,” Ream said. “We took a few more touches, a few more risks than necessary and that’s what it comes down to. Overall, to have four goals scored and [be] moving onto the semifinals is important.”
Ream’s even-keeled approach provides a sense of calm under pressure during these early days of Pochettino’s tenure. The manager’s faith in the veteran center back is echoed in the group’s desire to lift him up, as well. Late in the match, Ream ran onto a ball rolling untouched out of the Jamaica box. But as the CITYPARK crowd roared with anticipation, the Jamaica pressure was just too much to pull off an emphatic goal.
“We were all hoping he’d go for it,” Pulisic quipped. “He’s a team guy, man. He does whatever is best for the team.”
Ream’s character is the first quality teammates and managers point toward when asked about the Saint Louis University graduate. It is also exemplified in his actions, especially when the bright lights fade into post-match mingling. Hanging around the mixed zone following the match, Ream greeted a group of kids from St. Charles.
“Hi Tim, I’m going to St. Dominic [Ream’s alma mater] next year,” the kid excitedly told Ream.
“Oh, wow that’s great!” Ream responded as he signed the child’s jersey and took pictures with the group.
Just as he knows how important these kinds of matches are for the future of the U.S. men’s program, Ream also recognizes what they mean to a soccer-mad city—his soccer-mad city—as it embraces the latest chapter of the sport’s rich history in St. Louis.
“Having a pro team here now is important,” said Ream, who joined MLS side Charlotte FC from the Premier League club Fulham this past summer. “It tells players, ‘I can get there, I have something to aspire to.’ We didn’t have this when I was growing up in St. Louis. To now have that full pathway laid out in front of everyone, hopefully it just inspires more pro footballers.”
