مدير عام كرة القدم
- Arfsten highlights balance between professional focus and team bonding
- Defender notes cohesion among players from different leagues
- Columbus Crew standout impressed by group’s natural chemistry
Columbus Crew midfielder Max Arfsten discussed his experience with the USMNT during their 2025 Gold Cup journey to the final. The 23-year-old enjoyed a fruitful tournament, playing in all but one game on the USMNT’s way to the final, contributing to four goals. Arfsten described how the national team camp maintained a professional atmosphere while still fostering genuine connections among teammates.
“I mean we had some team dinners and stuff like that out which were really fun,” Arfsten told the US Soccer Podcast. “I just think, overall, getting to know the group very well and getting super close with the guys, I mean this was my third camp, overall. So I feel like – I know we were with each other for a very long time so it’s natural but this was like really good vibes with the guys within the team.
“Whether the guys played in Europe or wherever or MLS, everyone was super close and cohesive, and yeah, we just got along really well. I think that’s why we performed well in the Gold Cup and were able to make it to the final, just because I felt like, just as a group, we had a lot of good chemistry. And that was my favorite part of it obviously, you spend so much time with these guys, and a lot of it is strictly business with the soccer part of it…but we had a lot of fun off the field.”
Arfsten, who has starred for the Columbus Crew this season, also touched upon being picked for the All-Star game and admitted that it was one of his goals for the season.
“Yeah, I was very happy for it to be honest with you,” Arfsten said when asked about being named an All-Star. “It was actually kind of a goal of mine at the beginning of the year, I wrote it down cause I write down my goals, and that was one of them. I was like ‘I don’t know how this really works, is it fan-voted, and I don’t know how much I can control it, but it would be cool’.
He added, “When I found out it was a really cool moment for me because obviously just to be able to play with guys in MLS that are going to be there whether it’s Messi, Jordi Alba, just these top players to train with them even if it’s for a little bit and playing the game, it’s going to be a super cool experience. So I’m looking forward to it and obviously to see the Gold Cup guys too that’s going to be super cool.”
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Arfsten’s comments reflect the ongoing evolution of the USMNT player pool, which now features talent spread across top leagues worldwide.
The USMNT will reconvene in September for friendlies against South Korea and Japan as Pochettino continues evaluating his player pool ahead of next summer’s كأس العالم.
