USMNT vs. Uruguay score: USA soccer dominant South American giants in statement victory

The Americans put five goals past one of the better defenses in international soccer

The United States men's national team will end 2025 on a strong note after defeating Uruguay 5-1 on Tuesday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Without regulars such as Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams, the USMNT didn't miss a beat. Three players scored their first-ever USMNT goals, led by Sebastian Berhalter's goal and assist and Alex Freeman's brace. Tanner Tessmann joined the fun off the bench to add his first USMNT goal, as this squad has done everything to make World Cup squad decisions as tough as possible for Mauricio Pochettino.

Tactical wrinkles shined as right back Sergino Dest was moved to winger ahead of Freeman, and it led to overloads left and right on Uruguay's defense to great effect. Nine changes from the USMNT's win over Paraguay wouldn't slow them down as Mark McKenzie took the captain's armband and helped the team secure a statement victory. Freeman and Berhalter made their cases for being on the World Cup squad, but Gio Reyna also helped enhance his own.

Coming off the bench, Reyna delivered an assist to Tessmann for the fifth goal and ensured that the team would stretch their unbeaten run to five consecutive games. They now won't get together again until March of 2026 so it's great to make a good, potentially final, impression.

Call it What You Want: A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. Catch the show YouTube live every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:06 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's a statement victory for the USMNT as they stretched their unbeaten run to five games to end 2025. They've hit their stride under Mauricio Pochettino, and no matter who is in the lineup, an identity is forming. Let's take a look at the goals:

68' 5-1: It's the high fives for the USMNT as Tanner Tessemann gets his first USMNT goal following an excellent delivery from Gio Reyna.

45' 4-1: Uruguay gets an opener via De Arrascaeta, and it's a heck of a goal. This half has had everything.

41' 4-0: Go Diego, Go!! This time it's Diego Luna, and Mauricio Pochettino looks on like he expected the goal to happen. This is quickly becoming the best 45 minutes that we've seen under Pochettino as the USMNT are flying!

31' 3-0: Freeman has a brace now! It's still the first half of play, and everything is coming up in the USMNT's favor. What a start!

20' 2-0: Twice as nice! Another set play, another goal! This time it's Alex Freeman who scores with a long range header. Guess who, Sebastian Berhalter on the assist.

16' 1-0: Sebastian Berhalter straight from the training ground! After needing to retake the free kick he played a give-and-go before firing it into the back of the net from an acute angle to open the scoring. Berhalter is making a strong case to make the World Cup squad as a set-piece specialist.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

John Tolkin will leave the match after taking a knock for Max Arfsten, while Timmy Tillman will also leave the match for Brenden Aaronson to close this out with fresh legs.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:36 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Tanner Tessemann scores with a header following an assist from Gio Reyna and the USMNT are scoring for fun!

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:31 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's a rash challenge on Sebastian Berhalter, and Uruguay will be down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Already up 4-1 at 60 minutes? Why not make some changes? Balogun, Tessemann, and Reyna enter while Wright, Dest, and Luna exit.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It has been a sleepy start to the second half in comparison to how back and forth the first was, but Matt Freese was ready to turn a dangerous shot in behind for a corner kick.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 8:12 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Mauricio Pochettino may have a good problem that too many players are looking to make their case to be in the World Cup squad. We're back underway with no changes in the second half as the USMNT looks to push for more.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:54 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

I'm running out of supurlatives for the USMNT at this rate as now Diego Luna joins the fun. He's someone who needs the goal as he's needed to show that he can score against top opposition, and this is quickly becoming a 10 out of 10 performance for the entire squad in the first half of play.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:46 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Every time the USMNT goes forward, it's turning into a goal, as this has quickly become a domination of Uruguay. Alex Freeman has basically booked his spot in the World Cup squad with this performance so far. 

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:39 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Tolkin found Alex Freeman's head from another corner but the defender couldn't keep it down. The USMNT are racking up chances from set plays in the early going, and Uruguay will need to adjust.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:31 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

When you can't make things work in possession, it's important to use set plays to your advantage. From start to finish with Haji Wright drawing the free kick to Berhalter driving it home to score. Things then escalated quickly as Berhalter added an assist to his name with a great corner kick delivery, and the USMNT are flying early. 

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Essentially playing as a winger in front of Alex Freeman, Sergino Dest was able to win a corner for the USMNT, but Tillman's header was easily cleared. It's a promising spell in possession from the USMNT to start this off.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 7:11 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

As expected, it's a game of pinball in the early going between the two teams, with the USMNT struggling to hold possession, but the defense has been ready to keep the South American side from pushing into the attacking third.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The stage is set for quite a clash between two teams who will be heading to the World Cup in 2026.

[Nov 18, 2025 at 6:30 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

The USMNT are playing in a friendly in an NFL stadium for the first time since a 5-1 defeat to Colombia before the Copa America, and what a quirky venue they've picked in Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The stadium is famed for its pirate ship and the cannon (no word on whether it will go off at all tonight) but I was caught by surprise by the small fake beaches that appear right outside the venue. When in Florida, I suppose!

[Nov 18, 2025 at 6:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Facing Uruguay, the match will be a fight, but it's also one that the USMNT can win. The shift to a back three has increased their room for error, and this is a match which will see just how far that goes with Pochettino ringing in the changes. With only two players who started versus Paraguay getting the nod in a second consecutive match, it will likely see Uruguay get off to a fast start before the USMNT finds a way to equalize in the second half of play. Score: USMNT 1, Uruguay 1

[Nov 18, 2025 at 5:55 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The back three will remain, but only two starters from the Paraguay match will be in from the start to face Uruguay: Matt Freese and Sergino Dest. There may be heavy rotation, but it provides Pochettino to test different things against top quality opposition. How the defense lines up will be something to watch as Dest could be pushed forward with Alex Freeman operating in a standard back four or we could see something where Freeman is at center back.

USMNT starters: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Alex Freeman, John Tolkin, Tanner Tessemann, Adian Morris, Timmy Tillman, Diego Luna, Haji Wright

[Nov 18, 2025 at 5:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

While Pochettino will likely make a few changes to his XI, it's a good time to see more of the players who impressed versus Paraguay like Gio Reyna. Continuity has been tough to come by with how many changes the USMNT have had to make to the roster from break to break, so being able to run out most of the same defense in front of Freese would be good to see.

Predicted USMNT starters: Matt Freese, Max Arfsten, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally, Sergino Dest, Adian Morris, Cristian Roldan, Diego Luna, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun

[Nov 18, 2025 at 5:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Raymond James Stadium -- Tampa, Fla.
• Odds: USMNT +250; Draw +210; Uruguay +115

[Nov 18, 2025 at 5:04 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's a sunny end to 2025 for the USMNT in Tampa, Florida, where they'll face tough opposition in Uruguay. Marcelo Biesla's men are coming off a 0-0 draw with Mexico, as he'll face a coach who he's quite familiar with in fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino. It's another test for the USMNT as they prepare for the World Cup on home soil. With improving form, as the USMNT have shifted to a back three, this is an opportunity to end the year on a high note, with their next international break not being until March of 2026.