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Tim Howard Reveals Mauricio Pochettino's Big Miss In USMNT's Win Vs Haiti

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 2:50 PM ET

Ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout stages, the U.S. Men's National Team continues to face criticism from former players who had high hopes for this summer's tournament.

USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino guided his team to a 2-1 win against Haiti over the weekend to finish 1st in Group D. The USMNT won all three games in their group to seal nine points.

Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard expresses a big worry, and ahead of the quarterfinals game against Costa Rica, the questions continue to rise for Pochettino.

During the USMNT's win against Haiti, the goalkeeper Matt Freese made a mistake in giving away the ball to Haiti's Don Deedson Loucicius, who took advantage and scored past him.

Haiti capitalizes on the giveaway and finds the equalizer! pic.twitter.com/UKeqmELGCs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2025

The mistake was a poor one, but Howard's concern is how Pochettino will approach the knockout stages after his starting goalkeeper made an error that may occur again, but in crucial matches.

Tim Howard on Goalkeeping Selection

In the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Howard speaks on how he would've approached the Gold Cup group stage match for the USMNT in terms of selecting goalkeepers.

Team USA secured their qualification to the knockout stages after winning their first two group stage games. Pochettino's choice of Matt Freese over the experienced Matt Turner is not questioned, but managing their specific play time has.

Howard openly expresses how he would've liked to have seen Matt Turner starting against Haiti due to the game not having any risk factor for the tournament.

Tim Howard: "You'd have been better off playing Matt Freese game one, game two, right? [Haiti] on the board was a nothing game, right? Play Matt Turner. You can then go back with Matt Freese [for knockouts] because he's cooking and he plays in the quarterfinal."

Howard worries that questions are made off the back of Matt Freese's mistake will affect the goalkeeper before the crucial part of the Gold Cup. Howard and Landon Donovan expect the USMNT to win the Gold Cup, nothing less.

Who else remains in the Gold Cup?

The USMNT is looking to win its eighth Gold Cup in its history. Their rivals, Mexico, have won it nine times, and the U.S. will try and prevent the gap from growing.

Mexico and the USMNT are back in the knockouts as usual. With the U.S. playing Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, their potential semifinal opponents are between Canada or Guatemala.

The quarterfinals against Costa Rica will be Sunday at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A potential semifinal for the USMNT will be played on July 2. The Final will be played on July 6.

The last eight teams in the 2025 Gold Cup