In a span of five days, with high expectations surrounding the U.S. Men's National Team in the CONCACAF Nations League, the outcome has been nothing short of a resounding failure. Two consecutive defeats have brought back memories of the dark chapter in the team's history when they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

First, the USMNT missed out on the final after a last-minute loss to Panama in the semifinals last Thursday. Then, they fell to Canada 2-1 in the third-place match.

Among the numerous reactions, one particularly stands out — that of Landon Donovan, one of the most iconic figures in U.S. soccer history. Donovan didn’t hold back, delivering harsh criticism of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

Landon Donovan Furious After Another USMNT Defeat+

"I’m so sick of hearing how “talented” this group of players is and all the amazing clubs they play for. If you aren’t going to show up and actually give a s!%* about playing for your national team, decline the invite. Talent is great, pride is better," Donovan said on social media platform X.

Pochettino Reacts to the Setback

U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged the team’s failure in the Nations League Finals but expressed confidence that there is ample time to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

"I'm not going to say I'm happy, and don't misinterpret me, but if there's something negative from this result and something we need to learn, it's better it happens now because we have time," the Argentine coach stated in a press conference.

"If we're in this situation a year from now, of course, I'll say, 'Houston, we have a problem.' But I believe we have time, and I’d rather this happen now than closer to the World Cup," he added.

Canada's 2-1 victory over the U.S. in the third-place match was a bitter disappointment for Pochettino in his first official tournament as head coach.

The U.S. had previously won all three editions of the Nations League, but this time, they stumbled with a 1-0 semifinal loss to Panama and then failed to recover against Canada.

"I think the team's attitude was good. We didn’t lose because of a lack of effort or commitment," Pochettino noted.

"I want to send a message to the fans: don’t be pessimistic, don't harbor negative feelings. These things can happen. I agree that we need to understand why these results happened. But the goal is to reach the World Cup in the best possible condition," he concluded.