The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than a year away, and you could argue that the U.S. Men’s National Team is in a crisis.
When the USMNT named Mauricio Pochettino as head coach last September, it was supposed to be a foundational moment for the program.
The Yanks brought in one of the world’s most respected managers to lead them into a golden age that coincided with the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
But best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and things have taken a turn for the worse for Pochettino’s side.
The USMNT has lost its last four matches to Panama, Canada, Turkey and Switzerland by a combined score of 9-2, which has put heaps of pressure on the Stars and Stripes ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup, which gets underway Sunday evening at PayPal Park in San Jose.
The Yanks are massive -900 favorites to beat Trinidad & Tobago, the 100th-ranked country in FIFA’s World Cup Rankings, in their opening match Sunday.
In a vacuum, those drastic odds make sense.
The Americans will topple from their spot as the No. 16 team in the world when the newest rankings get released, but they’re miles better than the Soca Warriors, whose roster is full of players plying their trade in the USL, Canadian Premier League and in the Caribbean.
That said, there is perhaps no better time for a team like Trinidad & Tobago to take on the Americans.
Not only is the team in disarray off the field, but it will not be bringing its best roster to the Gold Cup with Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna unavailable for a variety of reasons.
Tyler Adams, the industrious midfielder and captain of the squad, is doubtful.
With all that star power missing from the lineup, the talent gap between Trinidad & Tobago and the United States shrinks.
It still heavily favors the Yanks, but it does bring down the chances of an all-out rout Sunday night.
That is important to note, because the USMNT will want to make a statement Sunday that they aren’t in a tailspin. The only way to do that is to dominate Trinidad & Tobago.
Perhaps the USMNT does just that. They come out on fire and roll over the Soca Warriors, but with the way things are trending with this team, that is a lot easier said than done.
The more likely scenario is that Trinidad & Tobago dig in and force the United States to grind out a result Sunday.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
The Soca Warriors will want to turn this into a physical, rugby-like match with plenty of fouls, lots of stoppages, and as much chicanery as the referee will permit, which is often plenty in CONCACAF matches.
Without their best game-breakers, the USMNT could struggle to break down Trinidad & Tobago if they dig in and just commit to defending.
By doing that the Soca Warriors will bridge the gap between these two teams enough to make them a very tempting underdog, considering the price.
Trinidad & Tobago is a 21/1 underdog on the three-way moneyline, which is an absurd price considering the form of the Americans, not to mention the pressure they’ll be under if this match is hanging in the balance late into the night.
It’s not a bet you should expect to win, but this is way too good of a price to pass up.
The play: Trinidad & Tobago (21/1, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Credit: Source link
