Welcome to the week`s soccer breakdown with James Benge. Even as summer peaks, football action is far from over. We`re tracking the Women`s Euro, the Club World Cup, a lively transfer market, and reflecting on the USMNT`s loss in the Gold Cup final. Let`s dive in!
Upcoming Fixtures (U.S./Eastern Time)
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Monday, July 7
Women`s Euro: Spain vs. Belgium, 12 p.m.
Women`s Euro: Portugal vs. Italy, 3 p.m. -
Tuesday, July 8
Women`s Euro: Germany vs. Denmark, 12 p.m.
Women`s Euro: Poland vs. Sweden, 3 p.m.
CWC: Fluminense vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m.
The Forward Line
USMNT Loses Gold Cup Final to Mexico
The next competitive match for the U.S. men`s national team is set for June 12, 2026, at SoFi Stadium, marking the start of their home World Cup campaign, a moment eight years in the making. It would have been ideal, for morale, to conclude this cycle of significant matches on a high note, but that wasn`t the case. Despite a strong start and a fourth-minute goal from Chris Richards, the U.S. suffered a 2-1 defeat against Mexico. With this win, Mexico adds the Gold Cup to their Nations League title, reaffirming their dominance in the CONCACAF region this year.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino had little to contest regarding the final score. The U.S. managed only six shots compared to Mexico`s 16 in Houston. However, Pochettino was visibly upset about a disputed non-penalty call in the 67th minute when Jorge Sanchez appeared to handle the ball. Even if the penalty had been awarded, the overall performance wasn`t one that deserved a win.
After Raul Jimenez equalized for Mexico, El Tri largely controlled the game at NRG Stadium. They outshot the USMNT 12-5 in that period, completed 65 more passes in the opponent`s half (96 vs 31), and had significantly more touches in the penalty box (34 vs 14). Edson Alvarez`s winning goal in the 77th minute felt inevitable. As Charlie Davies commented on Call It What You Want, this was not a winning display from the USA.
- Davies: `Overall, this was a terrible performance. This was difficult to watch. They brought the fight, they got the early goal, we`re all hyped but they weren`t connecting passes after that. Mexico woke up, they started keeping possession. Any time we did win the ball, we gave it right back. Sloppy passes, miscalculated passes, long balls when they should be short, short when they should be long. Ultimately, that was not a great game to watch.`
It`s important to remember a significant mitigating factor, one we`ve highlighted throughout the summer: this wasn`t the full-strength USMNT. Key players like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Folarin Balogun were absent. In this context, Pochettino`s primary goal was likely to assess the depth of the talent pool. The summer provided clear insights into players who could potentially make an impact next year. Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, and Matt Freese notably impressed and might earn a spot in the starting lineup at SoFi Stadium.
While the defeat to a major rival was disappointing, the team can build momentum from the experiences gained this summer as they prepare to face South Korea and Japan in September. As Pardeep Cattry observed, the areas needing improvement within the squad setup are now clearer.
- Cattry: `The USMNT managed to complete a redemption arc of sorts at the Gold Cup, complicated as it may be. Pessimism is no longer the prevailing sentiment but the onus is still on Pochettino and company to get the balance right …The fact that the USMNT exit the Gold Cup with several standouts may not have answered the question of if they can live up to the hype next year, but it likely gives this group a better chance to actually realize their potential – even if tempering expectations may still be required.`
Moving forward, the U.S. ideally needs more time and more challenging competitive tests. However, as World Cup hosts, they don`t need to qualify, meaning competitive matches are now complete until 2026. This cycle ended on a somewhat down note. The hope is that the true value derived from this summer lies in the valuable experiences gained rather than any silverware missed.
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As Women`s Euro Heats Up, Can Anyone Stop Spain?
There`s nothing quite like a 16-team summer international tournament. While massive World Cups offer widespread participation through qualifying, the group stages can feel like a lengthy process. The European Championships this summer, however, are moving swiftly. The tournament began just last Wednesday, and Norway has already secured a knockout spot after beating Finland 2-1 and seeing Switzerland eliminate Iceland.
Spain could soon join them. They convincingly defeated Portugal five goals to nil on Thursday and are strong favorites against Belgium in Thun. The world champions began the tournament in devastating form, but they could be even stronger with the potential return of Ballon d`Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who has recovered from viral meningitis. Despite their impressive start, Spain isn`t taking anything for granted, according to Olga Carmona.
- Carmona: `We have to keep our feet on the ground despite the great result the other day. We can`t make the mistake of being overconfident. We know Belgium are a great team, we`ve played against them a lot and we know they`re going to make it very difficult for us, so we have to stay very alert, go out there giving 100%, and we want to win.`
What about Spain`s main competitors? Germany had a solid start but will need to adapt against Denmark on Wednesday after captain Giulia Gwinn suffered a serious knee injury in their 2-0 win over Poland. Meanwhile, Saturday`s clash between two other favorites saw France emerge victorious with a 2-1 win over England, setting up a challenging quarterfinal qualification path for England against the Netherlands. Sandy Baltimore was outstanding for Les Bleues, with Elisa de Almeida equally effective on the opposite flank.
Laurent Bonadei`s side might be the dark horses landing in the lower half of the bracket, but today`s matches are likely to start with a powerful reaffirmation of Spain`s quality. They remain the team to beat, by a significant margin.
Top Stories
- USMNT Analysis: Where does the USMNT stand after this international window? Pardeep Cattry reviews the lessons from the Gold Cup campaign.
- Jimenez`s Tribute: A poignant moment in the Gold Cup final saw Raul Jimenez pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically died with his brother in a car accident. The two had a successful season together at Wolves in 2018-19.
- Arsenal`s Spending Spree: Arsenal had a busy transfer weekend, signing Martin Zubimendi for $76.5 million, a move viewed positively, and are reportedly nearing a deal for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres.
- Alonso`s Selection Headache: Real Madrid reached the Club World Cup semifinals, but their recent performances should be causing Xabi Alonso significant tactical concerns regarding his lineup.
- Musiala Suffers Injury: Terrible news from the Club World Cup quarterfinals, where Jamal Musiala sustained what Bayern later confirmed was a broken fibula.
The Back Line
Best Bets
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Club World Cup: Fluminense vs. Chelsea, Tuesday, 3 p.m.
THE PICK: Chelsea to win to nil (+175) – While it`s risky to underestimate Brazilian teams in the Club World Cup, especially one as resilient as Fluminense has been in overcoming Inter and Al-Hilal, their attack`s expected goals performance suggests they might have been slightly fortunate. They could struggle to break down a disciplined and organized Chelsea defense.
For more predictions, expert advice, and betting news, visit CBSSports.com`s betting section.
What We`re Watching
On CBS Sports Golazo Network
Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m. ET): Start your day with highlights, interviews, and major soccer stories on the network`s primary morning show. Available as a podcast too.
Morning Footy (10 a.m. ET): A special broadcast of Morning Footy, covering highlights, interviews, and top soccer storylines, kicking off the network`s coverage of the main game. Also available as a podcast.
Scoreline (7 p.m. ET): Catch up on all the significant news, results, and goals from global football`s top competitions, airing seven days a week.
How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel offering extensive global soccer coverage. Stream for free via the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
