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U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM CONCLUDES 2025 WITH ELECTRIC 5-1 WIN OVER 15TH-RANKED, WORLD CUP-BOUND URUGUAY
Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Tanner Tessmann Record First International Goals; USMNT Concludes 2025 With 10 Wins
TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team wrapped the year and November international window with an assertive and electric performance at Raymond James Stadium, scoring four first-half goals to lead to a statement 5-1 win over No. 15-ranked Uruguay and send the U.S. flying high into the final two camps before the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
The first international goals from midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, defender Alex Freeman, midfielder Tanner Tessmann and a first-half finish from midfielder Diego Luna led the way for the USMNT to record its third straight win and end the South American nation’s six-match unbeaten streak.
The victory also extends the USMNT’s current unbeaten run against World Cup-qualified opponents to five consecutive matches. In September, Uruguay clinched a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s15th appearance in the global tournament.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to the starting lineup coming off Saturday’s 2-1 win over Paraguay. The two holdovers were goalkeeper Matt Freese, making his 12th consecutive start, and fullback Sergiño Dest, starting back-to-back USMNT matches for the first time since the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals in November 2023.
After both sides looked to create some rhythm in the opening moments of the match, the U.S. broke through with a goal in the 17th minute. Striker Haji Wright drew a foul about 20 yards from goal on left side of the pitch. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who assisted a couple goals off set pieces this year, opted to play the ball short. He received an immediate return pass from Dest and curled a phenomenal right-footed effort into the upper right corner for his first international goal.
Three minutes later, the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year doubled the lead for the U.S. On a corner kick from Berhalter, Freeman timed his jump beautifully to head in his first international goal. The team’s second set piece goal of the night gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes of play.
In the 31st minute, the U.S. scored its third goal of the night, the first in the run of play. The last player added to the November roster, midfielder Timmy Tillman, made a crunchy tackle that developed into a fast counterattack for the U.S. Defender Auston Trusty, in his first appearance for the U.S. in 2025, received the pass from Tillman and played the ball first-time into space for Freeman charging toward the goal. The 21-year-old did the rest, skillfully dancing through several Uruguayan defenders with his dribble and delivering from close range to secure his brace.
Up 3-0, the U.S. wasn’t done, and in the 42nd minute, the team scored its fourth goal of the night. In a fantastic team sequence, Trusty chipped the ball up the left wing to John Tolkin. The defender played the ball forward to Tillman, who played it ahead to Luna. The team leader in appearances in 2025 slotted his shot between two Uruguay defenders for his fourth international goal.
Marcelo Biesla’s squad would pull one back right before the halftime break. In the box, midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar headed the ball to Giorgian De Arrascaeta and the midfielder finished a bicycle kick to cut into the deficit.
Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur received a red card in the 64th minute for a hard foul, leaving Uruguay with 10 men for the final 25 minutes of action.
Two of Pochettino’s second half substitutions would combine to capitalize on the advantage and add a fifth goal for the U.S. Following a short corner, midfielder Gio Reyna, who entered the match in the 61st minute, lofted a ball into the box. Midfielder Tanner Tessmann, moments after entering the match himself, nodded in Reyna’s cross in the 68th minute to record his first international goal.
This win concludes the November window and the calendar year for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The next international match window will be played from March 23-31, 2026. The USMNT finishes 2025 with a 10W-6L-2D record.
USA – Sebastian Berhalter (Sergiño Dest), 17th minute: The U.S. earned a direct free kick just outside the 18-yard box on the left. Known for his excellent service, Berhalter played the ball short to Dest. The combinationwith Dest set up a terrific look on goal for Berhalter. The midfielder struck a right-footed golazo into the far side netting to open the scoring. USA 1, URU 0
USA – Alex Freeman (Sebastian Berhalter), 20th minute: The U.S. took a corner kick from the left side of the pitch. Berhalter’s excellent delivery travelled toward the far post where Freeman timed his jump beautifully. The lengthy fullback knocked a header into the far post that froze Uruguay goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarin and bounced once into the far corner of the net. USA 2, URU 0
USA – Alex Freeman (Auston Trusty) 31st minute: A smart tackle from Tillman initiated a counterattack for the U.S. in its attacking half. Tillman recovered the ball and played it to Trusty on the flank. The defender’s one-time, short pass set up a run toward goal for Freeman. The youngster carried the ball, dribbling skillfully to evade multiple Uruguay defenders. The defender’s right-footed shot from close range caught a deflection and went into the left side of the net. USA 3, URU 0
USA – Diego Luna, 42nd minute: From Trusty to Tolkin, the U.S. moved the ball up the left side of the pitch efficiently. Tillman received a pass from Tolkin and played a low cross to Luna running into the box. The midfielder split two Uruguayan defenders and calmly slid the ball into the bottom corner to extend the lead for the U.S. USA 4, URU 0
URU – Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Rodrigo Zalazar) 45th minute: Down a goal, Uruguay applied pressure on the U.S. defense in an extended sequence. Zalazar headed a ball into the center of the box and de Arrascaetaconverted an overhead kick that took one bounce toward the back of the net to put Uruguay on the board. USA 4, URU 1
USA – Tanner Tessmann (Gio Reyna), 68th minute: Reyna chipped a ball with pace from about 25 yards out toward the penalty spot following a U.S. corner kick. Tessmann rose and flicked the ball past Fiermarin who came off his line to attempt to collect the ball. Tessmann’s firm header bounced once and into the center of the back of the net. USA 5, URU 1
- Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman and Tanner Tessmann each opened their international scoring account.
- Freeman recorded his first international brace and the third of his professional career. The last defender to score a brace for the USMNT was Aaron Long on June 22, 2019 against Trinidad & Tobago.
- Trusty has now recorded an assist in each of his starts for the U.S. His first came in his debut on Concacaf Nations League group stage match at Grenada on March 24, 2023.
- Diego Luna recorded his fourth international goal in his team-leading 16th cap of the year.
- This is the third victory for the U.S. over Uruguay in 10 all-time meetings and first since May 12, 2002 in a friendly played in Washington D.C.
- The match ties the largest margin of victory for the U.S. against a South American opponent. The record was set with a 4-0 win against Bolivia on May 28, 2016.
- It also ties the USMNT’s record for the largest margin of victory versus a FIFA top-15 opponent. The only other time it occurred was against No. 7 Mexico on June 18, 1995, which the U.S. won 4-0.
- This marks the first time since 2013 the USMNT has gone unbeaten against FIFA top-40 opponents in five straight matches.
- U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Uruguay
Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, Fla.
Attendance: 26,110
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees, clear
USA – Sebastian Berhalter (Sergiño Dest)
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USA – Alex Freeman (Sebastian Berhalter)
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USA – Alex Freeman (Auston Trusty)
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URU - Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Rodrigo Zalazar)
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USA – Tanner Tessman (Gio Reyna)
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USA: 1-Matt Freese; 15-Auston Trusty, 22-Mark McKenzie (Capt.), 16-Alex Freeman; 3-John Tolkin (18-Max Arfsten, 75), 17-Sebastian Berhalter, 23-Aidan Morris (6-Cristian Roldan, 89), 2-Sergiño Dest(8-Tanner Tessmann, 61); 10-Diego Luna (7-Gio Reyna, 61), 14-Timmy Tillman (11-Brenden Aaronson, 75), 19-Haji Wright (20-Folarin Balogun, 60)
Substitutes not used: 5-Joe Scally, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 12-Miles Robinson, 13-Tim Ream, 21-Jonathan Klinsmann, 24-Roman Celentano, 25-Patrick Schulte
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
URU: 1- Cristopher Fiermarín; 17-Matías Viña (22-Joaquín Piquerez, 45), 16-Mathías Olivera, 4-Ronald Araujo, 8-Nahitan Nández; 5-Manuel Ugarte, 6-Rodrigo Bentancur (Capt.), 20-Maxi Araújo (21-Facundo Torres, 72), 10-Giorgian de Arrascaeta (15-Emiliano Martínez, 67), 14-Rodrigo Zalazar; 9-Federico Viñas (7-Rodrigo Aguirre, 45)
Substitutes not used: 2-José María Giménez, 3-Santiago Bueno, 11-Juan Manuel Sanabria, 12-Kevin Martínez, 13-Guillermo Varela, 18-Brian Rodríguez, 19-Luciano Rodríguez, 23-Santiago Mele
Head coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Stats Summary: USA / URU
Shots: 10 / 9
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 5
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offsides: 2 / 1
URU – Rodrigo Bentancur (Caution)
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URU – Rodrigo Bentancur (Ejection)
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USA – Gio Reyna (Caution)
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USA – Folarin Balogun (Caution)
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URU – Rodrigo Aguirre (Caution)
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Referee: Julio Lune (GUA)
Assistant 1: Juan Tipaz (GUA)
Assistant 2: Jorge Ordonez (GUA)
Fourth Official: Brayan Cruz (CRC)
Man of the Match: Alex Freeman
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