By Kenta Hagiwara
USMNT Preview: The USMNT look to bounce back against one of OFC’s (Oceania) best at TQL Stadium.
Previous matchups:
October 11, 2016: USA 1, New Zealand 1.
Interim Head Coach Mikey Varas spoke to the media at FC Cincinnati’s Mercy Health Training Center on Monday, citing his role as an interim coach as one that maintains continuity between the coaching changes - from former head coach Gregg Berhalter to heavily rumored/soon to be coach Mauricio Pochettino. Varas, 41, joined the US Men’s National Team staff in August 2023, after stints as an assistant coach with the USYNT U20 team and as a head coach Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas.
Varas and the US Men’s National Team lost to Canada last week in Kansas City, 1-2. Varas repeatedly spoke about the poor first half on Monday, where the USMNT managed just 1 shot, 0 on target to Canada’s 11 shots, 5 on target… and a goal. MLS club Nashville SC’s Jacob Shaffelburg opened the scoring in that match off a poor first touch by Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
Speaking of the USMNT midfield - this September window is missing some notable names. Specifically, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie (who was reportedly close to a deal to join FC Cincinnati this summer) and AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, the latter who served as the USMNT captain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The veteran piece of that midfield puzzle, AC Milan’s Yunus Musah. “I try to lead by example” remarked Musah, on his experience so far with this current roster.
OFC currently has 11 members (and 2 “associate” members) that compete across the Southern Pacific. New Zealand, the top ranked nation from the OFC confederation, most recently qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they finished 3rd in Group F, above Italy, after drawing in all three matches in the group stage. With the expanded World Cup coming to the USA (and Canada/Mexico) in 2026, Oceania will be given a direct qualification spot for the first time, with nations previously having to win in the World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation Playoffs to advance to the prestigious tournament. Most recently, New Zealand lost 1-0 against Costa Rica to just miss out on qualifying for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Most notable player on New Zealand’s National Team? A striker by the name of Chris Wood, currently playing in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest. Wood has started his season in the EPL off well, scoring 2 goals through Matchday 3, helping Nottingham Forest start the season with 5 points, good for 9th in the EPL.
For the USMNT - two uncapped players looking to make their senior debut’s for the US Men’s National Team: Standard Liege (Belgium) defender Marlon Fossey and Barcelona Atletic (Spain) goalkeeper Diego Kochen.
Marlon Fossey, 25, is a dual-national defender that currently plays for Belgian Pro League’s Standard Liege. Fossey moved to England when he was 11 and joined the Fulham academy. Fossey is eligible for the England National Team as well, as he has UK citizenship. Thus far, Fossey has dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout his career, including a torn meniscus injury in his left knee back in March 2022. Fossey earned his first call-up to the USMNT back in 2019, but has yet to earn a cap for the senior team.
Diego Kochen, 18, is a “dual”-national goalkeeper that currently plays for FC Barcelona’s B Team, Barcelona Atletic. Kochen also has eligibility to play for the Peruvain and Venezuelan National Teams.
Kochen’s family moved him from Florida, where he was born, to Spain in 2018 due to work - soon after where he joined the infamous La Masia academy of FC Barcelona and signed his first professional contract in 2022. Kochen has represented the USYNT at the U17 and U19 levels and got his first USMNT call-up for this September window.
This is the fourth time the US Men’s National Team will play at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium - a venue they have been undefeated at thus far.
November 12, 2021 - USA 2, Mexico 0
June 1, 2022 - USA 3, Morocco 0
July 9, 2023 - USA 2, Canada 2 (Pen 3 - 2)
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