Some of the best teams in soccer often have a blend of players from three key groups: young wonder kids, players in their prime, and seasoned veterans who bring invaluable experience. So when the USWNT played England to a draw at Wembley, the side drew criticism, however former USMNT player, Stuart Holden called for Emma Hayes to be more open about giving younger talent more game time. 

Given that these were friendlies, Holden believes it’s the perfect opportunity to assess the younger players who will be pivotal for upcoming tournaments. Speaking on the ‘Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast’, he warns Hayes to not be too dependent on the veterans, which could result in a similar fate as her predecessor. 

“I think this next year now for Emma Hayes is about finding who the players are that can build out the rest of that squad and continue to push the starters,” said Hoden drawing comparisons to how Emma Sears and Alyssa Thompson got game time in the absence of the ‘Triple Espresso’. The ex-Chelsea boss decided to rest the trio of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman, to not risk injuries, considering the long season they have had. 

The ex-Bolton Wanderers player also speaks highly of the trio and believes they will be key players going into the World Cup qualifiers and the 2027 World Cup. “I think this was one of the areas where Vlatko Andonovski really fell short going into the Australia and New Zealand Women’s World Cup: the squad was starting to age a little bit, and there weren’t enough opportunities for the next generation of players to push those veterans,” added Holden. 

Andonovski’s reign was a mixed one. Jill Ellis had won back-to-back World Cups, and there was pressure on him to achieve the same success. However, he only managed a bronze medal at the Olympics and a round-of-16 elimination from the 2023 World Cup, despite the USWNT being favorites to win both. Holden believes the aging players were the reason, but they aren’t the only national team facing similar issues. 

Is age a problem for Pochettino’s USMNT too?

Mauricio Pochettino’s current USMNT roster is a unique blend of experienced players and young talents who have fewer caps combined than some of their established stars. In the most recent fixture, the Argentine coach started Tim Ream, who will be almost 39 years old by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives at home. 

While Emma Hayes’ team may have earned their tag as favorites for the 2027 World Cup, Pochettino has a bigger task at hand. From goalkeepers not getting regular club action to the dilemma of choosing between in-form players and those returning from injury. Hopefully, by the time the World Cup reaches the North American continent, Pochettino will have plenty of time to revamp the squad. Only time will tell if they make it past the cursed round of 16.