USMNT: How will the CONCACAF Nations League Impact the U.S.?

The CONCACAF Nations League begins in 2019. What will the new competition mean for the USMNT?

Another international “break” is upon us. The UEFA Nations League is in full swing with European fans eying plenty of tasty competitive matches among Europe’s traditional soccer powers while U.S. men’s national team fans are looking forward to more quality matches (at least in theory) for the USMNT.

Peru and Colombia are up next for the USMNT with trips to England and Italy on the horizon — all are quality opponents from other confederations who offer contrasting styles of play and unique challenges.

But let’s take a quick peek into the future. Beginning next year, the CONCACAF Nations League will kick off for the USMNT and each international window will soon become filled with “competitive” matches against other CONCACAF nations.

While USMNT fans hope that the CONCACAF Nations League has the feel of the UEFA Nations League (which has been making this usually quiet time in the international calendar a lot more interesting to watch), how will the CONCACAF Nations League impact the USMNT? Here are three points to consider.

1. There will be fewer opportunities for the USMNT to test themselves

When the international window is tied up with group stage matches against, say, T&T, Cuba, Panama or Haiti, will such matches provide enough competition for the U.S. to grow as a soccer nation? Probably not.

Granted that if the USMNT get to the business end of the CONCACAF Nations League and are in the last four playing for the trophy against Mexico or Costa Rica, there may be an interesting competitive match or two, but, going forward, the U.S. won’t be able to schedule as many matches against nations from other confederations where even the “B” squad could provide a stern test for the U.S. No offense to CONCACAF teams, but let’s be honest, if the U.S., Mexico or Costa Rica get to the quarterfinals of a World Cup, it’s considered an achievement for the entire confederation.

And why should the U.S. team have to play more competitive matches against CONCACAF teams? The CONCACAF Gold Cup already occurs every two years with each tournament consisting of three to six matches.

And let’s not forget the gauntlet of World Cup qualification that the U.S. must try to successfully negotiate after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Up to 16 matches against CONCACAF opponents in some very challenging places to play (#rememberCouva).

Here’s hoping that something like the Copa America Centenario makes it onto the international calendar in 2020 so the USMNT get additional competitive matches against teams outside of CONCACAF.

2. It will be harder to evaluate future U.S. talent

This is the one USMNT fans should worry about the most. With an emphasis on results (there’s also the remote chance the USMNT could get relegated in a future edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, which would mean playing even more “competitive” matches against CONCACAF minnows, but let’s not digress), the yet-to-be-named U.S. manager may opt to go with a more consistent lineup throughout the competition to get the needed results.

By replacing friendly matches where results are secondary with competitive matches where results count and which have fewer allowable substitutions (six substitutions in a friendly versus three or four in a competitive match, an overlooked fact given many young USMNT players received their first caps in friendly matches), the USMNT manager will likely have less opportunities to bring in new faces to training camp and to try out players in game situations that are on the fringes of the player pool. Typically, coaches are conservative with their selections when it comes to competitive matches and that may mean fewer chances for those trying to break in with the national side.

And one other thing to consider here: Given the international calendar is being filled with additional competitive matches, will teams that face the USMNT in friendlies choose to rest their most important players and opt to play their best in their own competitive matches? This may make it harder to evaluate what USMNT players can do against the world’s best.

3. Matches during international breaks will (maybe) count for something

Ok, but there is an upside to the CONCACAF Nations League, right? Instead of traveling all over the world within a week’s time to play matches that don’t count for anything (other than, maybe, FIFA coefficient points for world ranking and World Cup seeding purposes), the USMNT will play meaningful “competitive” matches in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Inherent in the pursuit of the CONCACAF Nations League trophy is the additional pressure to get results to ultimately win said trophy. There has never been any pressure on the USMNT team to get results in international friendlies. Many of these friendly matches could be seen more about individual auditions rather than team results. Performing and excelling under pressure in some potentially tough conditions is what will make the USMNT a stronger team.

Besides, the old saying is “familiarity breeds contempt.” By playing more matches against CONCACAF opponents, rivalries could be strengthened within the region. The USMNT’s rivalry with Mexico is arguably one of the best in all of international soccer (even the most recent “friendly” got incredibly heated), and potentially playing Mexico in another competition (and hopefully final) will keep fans interested during what sometimes may be rather dull international breaks. And the potential of additional matches against Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, T&T or Jamaica could amp up the rivalry with these countries down the road.

But this all assumes that the matches are, in fact, “competitive.” If the USMNT have their group wrapped up early on (which is entirely possible), they may be forced into playing essentially meaningless “competitive” matches against some weaker CONCACAF opponents — these are matches that the USMNT would have never scheduled given how few (and precious) international dates there are on the soccer calendar.