Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT closed out 2025 in style, further tantalizing American fans with a decisive 5-1 win over CONMEBOL power Uruguay in Florida.
Alex Freeman scored a pair of goals, Sebastian Berhalter set up one and scored another in breathtaking fashion, and the Yanks made it five unbeaten for their boss.
MORE — Pochettino’s USMNT starting to create hope ahead of World Cup
Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann scored the USMNT’s other goals, while Sergino Dest, Auston Trusty, and Giovanni Reyna added assists on a night when the team did not have Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, and a host of others.
MORE — USMNT vs Uruguay player ratings
The U.S. led 4-1 in the 65th minute when Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for a reckless challenge on Berhalter.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored Uruguay’s only goal as Marcelo Bielsa’s men lost for the first time since June, having beaten Venezuela, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Uzbekistan while drawing Chile and Mexico.
USMNT depth give Mauricio Pochettino a buffet for thought
Yeah, this is way more than food for thought. The Yanks defeated Paraguay and Uruguay by a combined 7-2 score line without a long list of their very best players. They did it with excellent midfield play, steady defending, and some very good goals. Just about the only thing that didn’t standout was the goalkeeper and that was largely because the ball rarely got to him. This win wasn’t just Mauricio Pochettino’s best as USMNT boss — it was the best for the program in some time, probably since a Gio Reyna-inspired 4-0 defeat of Ghana in October 2023. Reyna’s looks back in the fold, Sebastian Berhalter likely locked up a spot, and both Tanner Tessmann and Sergino Dest appear to be at the peak of their powers. This World Cup roster fight is going to be knock-down, drag-out, and keep Pochettino up at night. This is an exciting time to be a USMNT supporter.
What’s next?
The Yanks are off until the March 2026 international break. Their opponents have not been announced for those games.
USMNT vs Uruguay final score: 5-1
Sebastian Berhalter 17', Alex Freeman 21', 32', Diego Luna 43', Giorgian de Arrascaeta 45+1', Tanner Tessmann 69'
USMNT vs Uruguay live updates — by Nick Mendola
Tanner Tessmann goal — USMNT 5-1 Uruguay
Gio Reyna’s cross catches the keeper in no man’s land and Tessmann thuds home the header. Brilliant.
Rodrigo Bentancur red card
One of those challenges where you’re not sure it wasn’t simply in order to be done with the game.
Spurs’ Bentancur cleans out Berhalter with a ridiculous sliding challenge.
Always a red.
Halftime — USMNT 4-1 Uruguay
And exhale!
Giorgian de Arrascaeta goal — USMNT 4-1 Uruguay
No words. Just look at it.
Diego Luna goal — USMNT 4-0 Uruguay
Luna cleans up a deflected strike. Is this real?
Marcelo Bielsa, your thoughts?
Alex Freeman goal — USMNT 3-0 Uruguay
This is so, so good
Interplay with Auston Trusty leads to Freeman weaving his way into the box and sending home his second of the night!
Alex Freeman goal — USMNT 2-0 Uruguay
They’ve done it again. This time it’s Berhalter swooping a corner over almost everybody, and Freeman nods home at the back post.
Sebastian Berhalter goal (video) — USMNT 1-0 Uruguay
WHAT A HIT.
Berhalter quick-plays the free kick to Sergino Dest, who deadens the ball right back for the Vancouver Whitecaps man.
Berhalter absolutely clobbers the ball, sending it into the far side netting with vicious spin.
Haji Wright wins dangerous free kick
Ugarte chops down Wright a yard outside the 18 and maybe a half-dozen yards in from the end line.
Sebastian Berhalter lords over the sharp-angled free kick and... it’s drilled home after a whistle regarding pre-kick jockeying between teams.
Good start for Sergino Dest, USMNT
The Yanks have not been bothered by the occasion, as Uruguay have come out of the traps with fire.
Both Alex Freeman and John Tolkin have taken hard, hard fouls, while Aidan Morris saw his boot stamped as well.
Sergino Dest looks bright for the second-straight match, perhaps finally finding his footing in his second season back from an ACL tear.
Uruguay team news
Huge test for the Berhalter-Morris-Tillman midfield in the form of Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte and Spurs’ Rodrigo Bentancur. No ragrets.
Barca’s Ronald Araujo also starts with Napoli’s Mathias Olivera. Wolves’ Santi Bueno is among the subs, as is former Man United prospect Facundo Pellistri.
Uruguay did not call up Fede Valverde, Lucas Torreira, or Darwin Nunez, so like the USMNT they are not at full strength. They are, however, at fuller strength.
USMNT team news
Pochettino makes 10 changes!
The USMNT boss used Joe Scally as an athletic center back in his back three versus Paraguay, and looks to be doing the same with one of two fellow fullbacks in John Tolkin and Alex Freeman.
Timothy Tillman — Malik’s brother — starts in the midfield with Aidan Morris and Sebastian Berhalter, as Poch has rotated in a big way.
Haji Wright and Diego Luna also start.
That means Ricardo Pepi and the three goalkeepers not named Freese — Jonathan Klinsmann, Roman Celentano, and Patrick Schulte — are the only players who will not start a match over this break.
USMNT lineup
Freese, Dest, McKenzie, Trusty, Tolkin, Freeman, Tillman, Morris, Berhalter, Luna, Wright
Uruguay lineup
Fiermarin, Nandez, R. Araujo, Olivera, Vina, Ugarte, Bentancur, De Arrascaeta, Zalazar, M. Araujo, Vinas
USMNT vs Uruguay preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Pochettino will relish the chance to face his mentor who inspired his tactical philosophy, and the man who gave him his start in the professional game, Marcelo Bielsa.
After a really good performance, and 2-1 win, against Paraguay on Saturday, confidence is building around Pochettino’s side. They have now beaten Paraguay and Australia and drawn against Ecuador in their last three friendlies, and all of those teams are heading to the 2026 World Cup. Without several stars for this window (Antonee Robinson, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Tim Weah to name a few) Pochettino will be extremely impressed with his fringe players stepping up and staking their claim to be in his World Cup squad next summer.
Uruguay should be the USMNT’s toughest test in quite some time as they drew 0-0 against Mexico on Saturday and Marcelo Bielsa’s side eased through qualifying in South America. Captain and Real Madrid star Federico Valverde was not called up for this window, while the likes of Darwin Nunez and Lucas Torreira are also missing as Bielsa looks at some of his other options. Uruguay have only lost three of their last 16 games and finished third at the 2024 Copa America, as they beat the USMNT 1-0 in the group stage of that competition.
USMNT team news, focus
Pochettino was delighted with the performance of recalled playmaker Gio Reyna as he scored and assisted in the win against Paraguay. The talented attacker should start again, while Diego Luna is also pushing for a start in that area of the field. Folarin Balogun scored the winner against Paraguay but in-form Haji Wright (an unused sub on Saturday) is likely to come in to start. The likes of Ricardo Pepi, Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie are all pushing to start too as USMNT players scramble for precious minutes to impress ahead of the World Cup on home soil next summer.
Uruguay team news, focus
Manuel Ugarte and Ronald Araujo were both unused subs against Mexico and that suggests they should start against the USMNT. Bielsa will likely start veterans Rodrigo Bentancur and Jose Gimenez again to give them a solid look. Uruguay are extremely tough to create chances against but without the duo of Darwin Nunez and Federico Valverde they lack a bit of punch going forward.
USMNT vs Uruguay prediction
This feels like it will be a very even game and Uruguay have plenty of quality and will limit the chances the USMNT have. Go for a draw. USMNT 1-1 Uruguay.
How to watch USMNT vs Uruguay live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7pm ET Tuesday (November 18)
Venue: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, Florida
TV Channel: Universo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
