'Worried about the future of this USMNT' - Questions of 'Golden Generation' as Clint Dempsey reacts to 'two big failures' from Christian Pulisic & Co in 2026 World Cup countdown

The United States will be filling the role of co-hosts, alongside Canada and Mexico, at the 2026 World Cup. An exciting group of players were expected to build towards that tournament ready to make a potentially historic contribution to a global showpiece on home soil.

They have, however, endured concerning flops in a couple of continental competitions. Failure to make it out of the group stage at the 2024 Copa America led to managerial change, but ex-Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to deliver CONCACAF Nations League glory after suffering a shock semi-final defeat to Panama.

USMNT legend Dempsey is concerned about what the immediate future holds for a group of players that are failing to live up to expectations. A man with 141 caps to his name told CBS Sports: "People talked about this team being the ‘Golden Generation’. They qualify for the World Cup, they had a pretty strong performance, but then you look at the steps back – Copa America, not getting out of the group there, on home soil. Here, as we get closer to the World Cup, another failure so close to each other. It doesn’t give you a lot of hope.

"You look at us in our situation right now and it just doesn’t give you a lot of confidence, going towards this World Cup and having those two big failures so close to each other. Now we have the Gold Cup coming up – not going to have all of our best players because some are going to play in the FIFA Club World Cup.

"You look at the strength of schedule after that, who are the teams that you are playing against that are going to get you ready? I’m a little nervous and I’m worried about the future of this U.S. men’s national team."

Pochettino is able to call upon the likes of Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams – who are all playing at the highest level in Europe – but the USMNT are yet to find a formula that brings the best of talented individuals when they are asked to work together as a collective.