The last time the United States men’s national team met Uruguay, the Americans had their backs against the wall. The pressure was on, and the U.S. couldn’t cope. The South Americans controlled nearly every aspect of the Copa América group stage final, winning 1-0 and knocking the U.S. out of the expanded continental championship at the group stage.

The stakes weren’t as high Tuesday, but the U.S. looked like a totally different team – because it is.

Mauricio Pochettino’s fingerprints are now all over the squad, and with a 5-1 romp over La Celeste, he now has a win he can continually point to when his team needs belief it can compete with the big boys.

Neither team had its best squad, but Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa put out a stronger team than his protégé, Pochettino. Regulars like Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Betancur, who was sent off in the 65th minute, were all included.

It didn’t matter. They were swarmed by a U.S. team full of players eager to impress Pochettino and secure a marquee victory that puts any memories of the frustrations of the 2024 Copa América or 2025 Nations League long in the past.

With its 2025 wrapped up, B/R looks at who Pochettino will put on the field June 12 at SoFi Stadium when the games start counting as the U.S. opens the 2026 World Cup campaign: