Key takeaways from the USMNT's win over Chile, including Mathis Albert's historic goal

ST. LOUIS — Mauricio Pochettino had just 18 months to prepare his U.S. soccer team for this past summer’s World Cup, a timetable with inherent limitations. By staying on for a second term, the Argentine now has a full four years to mold the program in his own vision with players who fit into his system and young prospects who aren’t carrying any baggage or bad habits. Just two games into Pochettino’s second act, the U.S. is performing with fun and freshness. That’s not a slap at Pochettino’s summer bunch, which, until the ugly end, played cohesive soccer and scored quality goals in winning its World Cup group after two matches. But there is something zesty brewing in this 16-day camp. Victories over Peru and Chile, which finished at the bottom of World Cup qualifying, will not count for much. They were friendlies, after all. The temperature and intensity will rise with the last two matches in the international window, against primary rival Mexico on Saturday in greater Phoenix and secondary nemesis Canada next Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota. We’ll see how the kids do under greater pressure. Mathis Albert celebrates his goal with midfielder Malik Tillman during the United States' friendly against Chile on Sept. 29, 2026, at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images So far, though, the U.S. is putting on a crackling show, anchored by World Cup holdovers and invigorated by about a dozen newcomers. Never before in their 110-year history have the U.S. men scored four goals in back-to-back matches against opponents from outside the CONCACAF region. Not bad. A few thoughts from the 4-2 victory over Chile on Tuesday: Mathis Albert makes history At 17 years and four months, winger Mathis Albert became the youngest goal scorer in program history, overtaking Christian Pulisic, who was a few months older in 2016. Christian who? (We kid.) Albert’s integration into the program actually began at the World Cup this summer, even though he wasn’t on the team. With an eye on the future, Pochettino invited him to camp in Irvine, California, to meet the staff and players. “I had a good conversation with Poch,” Albert said. “He spoke for like an hour.” Albert attended the U.S. group matches against Paraguay and Turkey in the Los Angeles area. After reporting back to Borussia Dortmund for the Bundesliga season, he received his first U.S. senior call-up two weeks ago. Albert debuted as a sub in the 4-1 victory over Peru on Saturday in Orlando, Florida, drawing a questionable penalty kick that led to the go-ahead goal. He then came on in the 71st minute against Chile. His goal came in stoppage time, a close-range stab that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced just behind the line before Chile cleared it. Play continued until the assistant referee ruled the ball had gone over the line. “I saw the ref, and I didn't know if he was going to count it, but I knew it was in,” Albert said.  Speaking about Pochettino, Albert said, “He really trusts me. He's one of the best coaches I have ever had. He gives me all the confidence. Before I played today, he just told me, ‘Go create chances. You have all the freedom.’” Albert has bonded with his new teammates, though he was already familiar with veteran midfielder Gio Reyna, who also rose through the Dortmund system before moving to Strasbourg in France this season. “It kind of feels like a home, like a family here,” said Albert, a South Carolina native who has a French father and American mother. “I'm just really happy to be a part of it.” Familiar names stepping up With Pulisic and Weston McKennie among the absent veterans, Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter have stepped into prominent roles. Just 23, Reyna seems as though he’s been around forever. A young wonder himself years ago, his immature behavior at the 2022 World Cup led to a firestorm and his lack of playing time at Dortmund almost derailed his World Cup roster hopes this summer. Now in a key role at Strasbourg, Reyna has rediscovered his game. At this U.S. camp, he was the only player to start against both Peru and Chile. “I'm one of the leaders of this camp, for sure,” he said. “I just try to fill them with confidence, tell them to play their games, [use] their instincts, do what brought them to this camp. … The youthfulness and the energy is great for the camp and brings a fresh breath of air after the World Cup.” Berhalter, who’s been with the program less than 18 months, scored for the second consecutive match, assisted on Chris Richards’ go-ahead goal with a pinpoint corner kick and generally continued to impress in midfield. “Every time he gets on the ball on a set piece, I'll go find it,” Richards said. “He works a lot on it, and even though we don't see each other week in and week out, it's just probably muscle memory at this point.” Berhalter has also taken a greater leadership role. “A player like him is priceless,” Pochettino said. “It's difficult to put a value on it.” Told of Pochettino’s comments, Berhalter said, “It means a lot. That's the first time I am hearing that. It's pretty special from a coach like him to hear that, and he's rewarded me since Day 1. He's believed in me. … I'm just trying to repay him and just trying to make him proud.” Pochettino noted Berhalter did not have an easy time when he was first called into the national team. “Being a son of the former [U.S.] coach here [Gregg Berhalter], I know how tough it was for him,” Pochettino said. Growing together The U.S. has been a tight-knit team under Pochettino for some time, but even with many new players in camp, the culture remains strong. That was clear in the dying moments of Tuesday’s match when multiple scuffles broke out and players came to one another’s defense. “It's very important to show the new guys that this is a family, and that if you mess with your family, this is what happens,” Richards said. Both benches emptied and Pochettino was on the field. Pochettino, a former Argentine World Cup defender, drew laughter when he said, “When I was young, yes, I like a lot to fight. Now, I’m more relaxed. I don’t have the same reflex, and I am not so fast, if I need to move and run.” The chemistry and bond will be needed in the upcoming matches. The young players “will really see what that beast is,” Richards said. “They'll see Mexico. They'll see Canada, and so for us, it's obviously every game, every training is a chance to learn. But also we're building off of what we did over the last three and a half, four years.”