USA Men's Soccer Team Holds Longest Practice in 14 Years—A Full Two Hours
BREAKING NEWS: The USMNT just had their longest practice in 14 years—a whopping two hours! No wonder we’ve struggled in soccer. It’s not just because the sport ranks fourth or fifth in popularity here; it’s because these guys barely practice! Thank God we hired Pochettino. Finally, someone who knows what they’re doing.
I was speechless when I heard Tim Ream say that a two-hour practice was the longest session he’s had in 14 years with the USMNT. There are 8U rec leagues practicing longer than our national team. Let that sink in—youth soccer teams are training more than the squad we send to compete in the World Cup. What can you even accomplish in a practice shorter than two hours?
Let’s break it down. You spend 15 minutes stretching, 10 minutes on water breaks, another 10-15 on individual drills. That leaves you with what? Maybe 25-30 minutes of actual game-like scenarios together. It’s insane. It’s like when people post a picture of a 24-pack of Bud Light and a college football game on their TV and say, “The European mind couldn’t comprehend.” Well, my American mind can’t comprehend how our men’s national team was practicing less than two hours a day!
Honestly, we should be practicing more than any other country, considering how far behind we are in the global soccer landscape. Look at the top players in Europe. Take Bukayo Saka, for example—he plays every game for Arsenal, and even when he goes on an international "break" with England, he’s still putting in a full 90 minutes.
Given that we only have a handful of players in elite European leagues, the USMNT needs as many reps as possible to close the gap. So, Pochettino, thank you. If anyone can turn this team around, it’s you.
Finally, it feels like we’re moving in the right direction. Maybe we’ll stop being the punchline in the global soccer conversation and start competing at the level we should be.