As a piecemeal USMNT lineup was torn to shreds throughout their embarrassing first half against Switzerland, it was obvious that the on-field performance lacked any kind of leadership.
With Mauricio Pochettino’s side lacking many of its regular first-choice players for a myriad of reasons, the only remaining player to display true leadership qualities in recent months is Tyler Adams, who was sidelined with a foot injury which he described to The Sporting News as “a turf toe type thing, overload type thing.”
The introduction of Adams at halftime helped turn the friendly over the weekend against Turkey, and his absence was glaring as the USMNT was dismantled in Nashville days later.
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With star Christian Pulisic receiving criticism for requesting the summer off, it’s left Adams to pick up the pieces as the lone member of the current generation of starters actually donning the national team jersey this summer.
Speaking to The Sporting News as part of an Allstate initiative to build soccer pitches across the country in the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, Adams was never going to throw his teammate and friend under the bus for being a no-show this summer, but his insight into Pulisic’s decision to rest was nonetheless poignant.
So how does he believe USMNT players should balance the often conflicting nature of club and national team responsibilities when the stakes are so high?
He doesn’t, because it’s impossible.
“There is no such thing as balance in soccer,” Adams said. “When you’re at this level, you can never win, honestly.
“I played my first full season this season in a really long time, my body was feeling great coming into national team [camp], you go through so many ups and downs that you have to just grind it out and find that happy medium, but there never is a happy medium.
“You really struggle with how many games are being added to the regular season, and I play for a club that doesn’t even compete in [European competition]. For guys that are playing in Europe week in and week out, having three-game weeks the entire season, I can’t even imagine what they are going through and the conflict of it, because there’s not one person in our national team that doesn’t want to be here representing our country. At some point or another, you have to decide ‘how do I put myself in the best position to compete at a high level for a long period of time?'”
Essentially, the U.S. players have to make do with what they’re given. In a world where fixtures congestion increases at a nearly unsustainable level, players are forced to make hard decisions.
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Adams must now lead this band of misfit toys into a Gold Cup knowing many of them won’t be around for much longer. With that in mind, it makes the goal of building towards a World Cup difficult, but Adams says even in such adverse circumstances something can be gained.
“In terms of a knockout tournament, is going hot into a tournament the best? Is having something to prove the best? In terms of the mental standpoint, what mentality is the best? There were times when I was in MLS in the playoffs when we were the best team in MLS by far and we got knocked out in the first round. So how do you gauge where you need to be at each moment in time? You want to find the balance and know how to win games in the right moment, but at the same time that hunger is important.”
No, the USMNT captain isn’t arguing that losing four consecutive matches heading into a competitive tournament is preferable, or ideal, or intentional. Instead, Adams is looking to push forward with the hand the USMNT has been dealt, and weaponize the recent struggles to their advantage.
“You need to win games, that needs to become infectious and contagious, and that’s part of the development curve. But from the standpoint of going in [to a World Cup] not having lost in 20 games, that could set you up for failure too, you know what I mean? Losing 4-0 to Switzerland doesn’t feel good, and doesn’t help us in terms of teaching players how to win and the best way to win games, but you get knocked on your butt, you have to get up from it eventually and fight back.”
Essentially, Adams believes the current situation presents an opportunity. Certainly not one they sought out, but one they have now been forced into.
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Former MLB pitcher Trevor May, who now has a successful social media presence analyzing the game of baseball, has become a proponent of “using your misses.”
The USMNT now has a bunch of very bad, very ugly, very disheartening misses over the last few months. To Adams, it’s now on the squad to use those misses effectively.
they have a manager who he believes can help players adapt to the stark contrasts of national team camp compared to their club environment, just as Pochettino himself is doing in his first international job.
“He’s a manager that pushes you to your limits and wants to get the best out of you, and it’s super important that when we come into camp we’re challenged and pushed to develop in different ways.
“But the biggest thing is, everyone has to understand, even from an individual level, you go through a process of change. I’ve been fortunate myself at the age I’m at, that I’ve had so many different coaches throughout my career and I’m able to adapt. Whereas I think a lot of players coming into an international environment for the first time, you have to learn on the fly and be able to learn these tactics on the fly to have an impact on the field and be at your best.
“He’s trying to put us all in situations in a way that’s not stressful, give us freedom to play the game and understand the game, and be ourselves. So I think that’s important and a huge quality of his.”
Adams has been a leader within the USMNT squad for some time now, and has propped himself up as a link between the coaching staff and the rest of the squad.
As a player who initially came through the domestic development system with the New York Red Bulls, Adams has also taken the chance to focus efforts on youth development in this country. His Allstate initiative has already built basketball court-sized mini pitches in the Detroit and Philadelphia areas, with one more planned at an undetermined location before the World Cup next summer.
In the short term, Adams has recovery from his recent injury setback on the mind, and hopes his leadership qualities can help the team this summer at the Gold Cup, whether he’s on the pitch or not.
“I think for me in a national team setting, it’s pretty simple: relatability. How many guys on the team have been in similar situations to you, and vice versa? When I look at our roster right now and the players that it’s made up of, I can relate to so many guys on the team because I’ve had a similar pathway myself.
“A lot of guys coming through MLS with their first opportunity to play for the national team, which I did myself. Some of them eventually want to make a move to Europe, which I did.”
At this point, however, what Adams isn’t here for is criticism of the team’s dedication.
“I don’t think anyone can ever question anyone’s commitment to this jersey and representing your country in the right way. I think everyone knows the privilege and honor it is. I think the biggest thing for me is that when we come into camp, we go through these trainings and you’re not taking days off. Of course it’s not a club environment, but we need to treat it as such in terms of, how do we get the best out of each other so we’re able to take that next step?”
That next step is the biggest question. With the Gold Cup now in view, and a struggling team in tow, Adams will look to change the narrative in small steps. A positive performance in CONCACAF competition is first up, and then they will set their sights on bigger achievements once the heat cools off.
If it cools off. That’s on them.
