USMNT lean into set pieces by calling upon soccer's first set piece coach, Gianni Vio, ahead of Nations League

The USMNT play Jamaica for a spot in the Concacaf Nations League final

ARLINGTON, TEXAS -- As a group that's already booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament's hosts, the U.S. men's national team have a lot of time on the clock as they build towards a statement-making performance two-plus years from now. The circumstances lend themselves to a detail-oriented approach, and one of the particulars they have prioritized in recent months is set pieces.

It's undoubtedly an area of their game the USMNT can improve upon -- the team has scored just three goals from set pieces in their 18 matches since the 2022 World Cup, their last scored by Bryan Reynolds in their 6-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis during the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage last June. Head coach Gregg Berhalter, who returned to the job last September, identified it as an area of focus as the team prepares for 2026.

The U.S. Soccer Federation also acted swiftly to hire an expert to assist Berhalter -- Gianni Vio, the Italian banker who became soccer's first set piece coach and made a name for himself as a member of Italy's European Championship-winning coaching staff. Vio later went on to work for Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and has been with the USMNT since October.