United States of America defender Chris Richards. Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia: Key takeaways from a labored Gold Cup win

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 11:37 PM ET

AUSTIN, Texas — The United States Men's National Team beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on Thursday to maintain its perfect Gold Cup record. The match was frustrating and uninspired, with both teams failing to show their best, but the final result will suit the USMNT just fine: It sealed its spot in the Gold Cup quarterfinals with one game to spare.

Here are the key takeaways from the USMNT's tedious but effective 1-0 win over the Saudis:

Chris Richards is cementing his spot in the USMNT's best 11

Has any American had a stronger summer than Richards? The Crystal Palace defender capped off his club season by winning England's prestigious FA Cup, then played a blinder against Turkey with the USMNT. He was rested against Switzerland, and his absence was dearly felt — and now, two games into the Gold Cup, Richards is perhaps the only nailed-on starter in this fluctuating USMNT. His aerial threat, calm demeanor and strong communication add a much-needed layer of security to the USMNT's game.

That defensive block in the first half? That fully deserved goal in the second? It was world-class stuff from the center back. There weren't many standout performances in this hard-fought USMNT win, but Richards' was unquestionably one of them.

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Key MLS additions need more time to cook

The USMNT managed precious few shots on target against Saudi Arabia, and a lot of that came down to an MLS trio: Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten at full-back and Patrick Agyemang up top.

Freeman and Arfsten, tasked with the thankless job of defending Saudi Arabia's wide attacks and launching key runs of their own, struggled to pivot. Freeman did a little better than Arfsten — he has the markings of a special player — but both are well off where they need to be if they hope to get minutes in next summer's World Cup. Pochettino needs athletic, aggressive, multi-faceted players for this full-back position, and neither Freeman nor Arfsten delivered on those asks against Saudi Arabia. They're in this USMNT because Fulham's Antonee Robinson and PSV's Sergiño Dest are injured; expect both Freeman and Arfsten to fall out of contention when those two return.

Agyemang, meanwhile, struggled to find his touch. He had a few good moments where he was able to overpower the Saudi defense through sheer physicality, but his final balls were consistently off-target, and he failed to read forward passes from his teammates. One bad game is an anomaly, but two bad games is a trend, and Agyemang had these same issues against Trinidad and Tobago in the opening game of the Gold Cup. He has a lot of work to do.

Concacaf needs to get its ticket pricing in order

Austin is one of America's premier soccer markets, but you wouldn't have guessed it from the USMNT's turnout there against Saudi Arabia. The culprit? Utterly unreasonable ticket prices set by Concacaf, North American soccer's governing body. The cheapest ticket for this late-night midweek match was $92, and the Austin market showed its disdain for that by (rightfully) staying home. It's embarrassing for Concacaf and a real shame for the USMNT and the Austin soccer faithful. Fewer than 10,000 fans turned up to a 20,500-capacity stadium that the USMNT is more than capable of selling out.

The USMNT will continue its Gold Cup journey against Haiti on Sunday, June 22 in Arlington, Texas.

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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