The U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) was knocked out of the Copa América after a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday. Mathías Olivera scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute after a long video assistant referee (VAR) check for offside, despite protests from the U.S. team.
The USMNT needed a win to advance, as Panama’s 3-1 victory over Bolivia secured Panama’s spot in the quarterfinals. This marks the first time the USMNT has been eliminated in the group stage of a senior men’s tournament hosted on home soil.
The match saw controversial refereeing decisions by 32-year-old Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega, which hurt the U.S. team. Uruguay also suffered a first-half injury when winger Maximiliano Araújo was stretchered off after a collision with U.S. defender Tim Ream.
Despite a few good opportunities, the U.S. struggled to create clear scoring chances and finished third in the group with three points. The Copa América was a significant test for the USMNT ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, “We know that we’re capable of more, and this tournament, we didn’t show it.” Fans expressed their frustration by chanting “Fire Gregg” during and after the match.
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