The USMNT closed out 2025 with its most convincing performance of the cycle. The 5-1 win over Uruguay, ranked 15th by FIFA, made it clear from the opening half that the team stepped on the field fully locked in. Four goals came before the break, with three players scoring for the national team for the first time, and the level of control showed up in every part of the field.
Goals that shifted the tone of the match
The USMNT didn’t need much time to turn early pressure into a lead. At the 17 minute mark, Berhalter got the return pass from Dest and hit a right footed shot into the upper corner to open the scoring. Three minutes later, a set piece worked again. Off Berhalter’s corner, Freeman rose well and headed the ball in to extend the lead. Uruguay’s back line was still trying to reset when the third goal arrived, a play that started with Tillman winning the ball and sparking a counter. Trusty played a short pass to Freeman, who drove forward and finished after slipping past defenders.
Even up 3 0, the tempo didn’t dip. A sequence down the left gave Luna space and he sent a low shot into the net for the fourth of the night, a moment that showed how calm the team looked in the box. Uruguay pulled one back before halftime with De Arrascaeta’s bicycle kick after Zalazar’s assist, but the gap remained wide.
In the second half, things tilted even more toward the United States once Bentancur was sent off in the 64th minute. Soon after, Reyna took a short corner and crossed to Tessmann, who redirected the header to close out the score and record his first goal for the national team.
Numbers, confidence and the preparation taking shape for 2026
The win wrapped up the November window and capped a strong stretch. The team is now five matches unbeaten against World Cup bound opponents, something that hadn’t happened since 2013. All of those opponents are inside FIFA’s top 40, which adds weight to the run. The result also matched the USMNT’s largest margin of victory over a South American rival and tied the biggest difference recorded against a top 15 team.
The squad won’t be back on the field until March 2026, entering the new year with momentum at a moment when expectations are starting to rise.