USMNT knows how vital it is to have game plan for penalty shootout

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There is no crueler way to end a World Cup.

A penalty shootout where talent and tactics go out the window in the span of five kicks. Where months of preparation and years of sacrifice can disappear into a goalkeeper’s gloves or sail over a crossbar.

As we discovered Monday, the knockout stage has a way of reducing the world’s biggest sporting event to its most unforgiving exam.

United States players watched Germany fall to Paraguay from their team flight to San Jose and the Netherlands bow out against Morocco from the hotel after two dramatic penalty shootouts. They were captivated like the rest of us, but they were also taking mental notes.

“In the moment I was a fan, then I realized that we’re also in the same tournament,” defender Chris Richards said. “We saw two upsets [Monday], so we’re making sure we don’t allow that to happen to us.”

Germany’s exit became a cautionary tale for the Americans. Defender Jonathan Tah had to shoulder the pressure after several experienced players reportedly hesitated to take a kick in the extra round. In his first career penalty, Tah’s attempt sailed high over the crossbar and into the seats.

That scene is exactly what the U.S. insists will not happen to it against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Speaking Tuesday at PayPal Park in San Jose, multiple members of the U.S. squad said that penalty kicks have become a consistent part of their training routine. Nobody wants to discover who is willing to volunteer after 120 exhausting minutes. But they are preparing now just in case.

“I don’t want to give away too much, but we are working on them and providing tools to players to improve them,” U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “We know it’s impossible to replicate the stress, pressure and emotions of that situation, but we are trying.”

Both the manager and the players revealed that if the Americans find themselves embroiled in a penalty shootout, Pochettino would decide the pecking order of who takes them.

Christian Pulisic remains the obvious choice to lead off or anchor the group if he’s still on the pitch after 120 minutes.

Folarin Balogun is the team’s leading scorer, and his confidence in front of goal makes him a clear choice. He’s taken 25 in his career and made 17.

Ricardo Pepi could come on as a substitute at some point in the match. He’s taken 10 penalties in his career and made eight.

Gio Reyna has taken five and is perfect from the spot. Tyler Adams has taken two in his club career and made his only attempt for the U.S. against Costa Rica during the 2025 Gold Cup quarterfinals. Malik Tillman (five), Sebastian Berhalter (two) and Alex Freeman (two) all stepped up and took penalties in that match as well and could be called upon if extra rounds become necessary.

“I’m confident in the way I take PKs,” said Tillman, who volunteered if called upon.

Then there is perhaps the Americans’ greatest weapon: goalkeeper Matt Freese, whose nickname “Matty Ice” comes from his elite penalty saves. He famously dedicated a research project during his time at Harvard to penalty-kick analytics, studying biomechanics, shooting tendencies and subtle body movements to improve his chances from the line.

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“Penalties are my thing,” he said after stopping three against Costa Rica.

The U.S. is 6-5 all time in penalty shootouts, including victories over Canada and Costa Rica in the past three years. Remarkably, the Americans have never played a penalty shootout in a World Cup.

That statistic could survive another year, or history could finally demand five volunteers brave enough to walk toward the spot with a nation’s dreams hanging in the balance.