The USWNT soon kicks off the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico. While some fans may expect the Americans to breeze through this tournament, it will not be so simple. This is by far the toughest CONCACAF competition the USWNT has entered. Here are our keys to success for the American side in Monterrey.
The quest for a fifth star begins.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 2, 2022
The road to Down Under goes through Monterrey, Mexico.
🎙 @AbbyWambach pic.twitter.com/vJipqmNWqB
Keep Your Head On
The first key to success is to keep your head steady on your shoulders. While this may seem obvious, it will be one of the most difficult challenges in these upcoming weeks. Getting “CONCACAF’d” is a term well-known in the women’s, men’s and youth sides among North America, Central America and the Caribbean. It means that the team with more globally-established players will deal with the in-game shenanigans from the athletes and fans of less established sides. The term also refers to the unpredictability of outcomes in CONCACAF competitions. Sides will try to get in the heads of the USWNT and frustrate them to the point of making regrettable and avoidable mistakes. Therefore, keeping a calm presence will be crucial to the success of this team.
Balance Developing Chemistry and Squad Rotation
One of the major storylines in this tournament revolves around which players are and are not on the roster. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski brought many new faces to Monterrey. The usual members remain at home for various reasons. Upcoming superstar Catarina Macario also tore her ACL recently. This mix of veteran and less experienced faces needs to develop chemistry. Look for younger players like Alana Cook, Sophia Smith, Mal Pugh, Trinity Rodman, Emily Fox and Ashley Sanchez to receive significant minutes. However, the tournament is compact, so squad rotation is a necessary reality. A significant key to success will be to balance these two factors correctly. Andonovski cannot do the “hockey line change” substitutions he attempted at the Olympics because they ruin cohesion. He will have to find more strategic ways to incorporate and rest players.
Embrace the Underdog Mentality
For the first time in a long time, the USWNT may not be the favorite at a CONCACAF competition. While this may seem strange since the Americans are the number one ranked team in the world by FIFA, other nations have a significant claim to the title of favorite. The USWNT will also miss nearly an entire starting lineup due to injury. Olympic gold medalists Canada return most of their squad with little to no injuries. Additionally, Mexico hosts the tournament and expects enormous home crowds. Mexico’s domestic league, Liga MX Femenil, continues to rise in skill. Outside of the US, many want the Americans to slip up and miss World Cup or Olympic qualification. Another key to success is to feed off that energy. Instead of carrying the pressure to always be at the top, use the feeling of being written off to light a fire.
Enjoy the Tournament
Finally, the most important key to success is for the players to enjoy themselves on and off the field. If they feel happy and passionate about the entire experience, the quality on the field looks noticeably better. Tournaments are daunting, particularly away from home. However, if the USWNT can find joy in their setting, then they will be a tough team to beat.
The journey to the 2023 @FIFAWWC and @Paris2024 begins. 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 3, 2022
Fans can watch the USWNT, Mexico, Canada and all other competing CONCACAF nations on CBS platforms such as Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. Games kick off July 4th, 2022, with the final on July 18th. Continue to follow Beyond Women’s Sports online or on Twitter for more news and analysis. You can also follow or interact with the author on Twitter with questions or comments.
