The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the perfect opportunity for soccer to finally become a mainstream sport in the United States, but a successful tournament is essential for that to happen. That’s why U.S. Soccer made a big move and hired Mauricio Pochettino as head coach.
Known for his ability to develop young players, Pochettino was seen as an ideal candidate given the United States has a young squad full of potential but lacking direction in recent years. Pochettino’s tenure has not been perfect so far, but his achievements rest on the World Cup.
This will be the first time the United States has hosted a World Cup since 1994, when they won just one game during the tournament. Failure to improve on that total would be an utter disaster for the hosts, but Pochettino boldly insisted to President Donald Trump that the United States had a chance to win it all.
In a bizarre draw for the FIFA World Cup in December, the U.S. was tied with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in a favorable group. The United States faced all three teams during Pochettino’s tenure, winning two, but lost at home to Turkey 2-1.
If America can repeat the same thing under Pochettino, they could easily qualify for the final round. It hasn’t been much of an issue in recent tournaments, but the U.S. always seems to struggle going into the finals.
The closest the United States has reached in the modern format was in the quarterfinals in 2002, when they finished third in 1930, but only 13 countries participated. Pochettino has an enormous task ahead of him, but preparing for the World Cup has not been an easy one.
Pochettino faced further criticism on Monday for emailing each player instead of calling them as he whittled down a long list of 55 to a 26-man squad, saying: “I care. You know why I care? Because the (past) two weeks I haven’t been able to sleep.”
“If I’m going to call, it’s about myself. I say, ‘Oh, I’m going to call. I’m very human in that I call and then I explain.’ Come on, that’s b******.”
Playing style under Pochettino
European fans are used to seeing Pochettino adopt a high-intensity approach, focusing on attack and allowing the full-backs to move forward while the deeper players in midfield cover the tracks. His entertaining style was admired at Tottenham Hotspur and led to roles at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
The same philosophy has been imposed on the United States, with an emphasis on aggressive pressing and forcing turnovers in the midfield. Pochettino has also experimented, playing with a back three despite defense being one of the team’s weaknesses.
When in possession, the USA employs a modern 3-4-2-1 formation, with wing-backs running up the channels and feeding crosses into the box. Without the ball, the formation shifts to 4-2-3-1, which took some time to get used to.
Mauricio Pochettino has restructured the USMNT since taking over (Image: 2026 John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF)
However, the American team has been plagued by injuries to key defenders and midfielders since Pochettino took over, meaning he hasn’t had much of a chance to lead his best side and perfect his tactics. The same issues remain ahead of the World Cup, which could lead to bold changes.
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will be able to field three healthy and capable center backs, but they also lack depth in central midfield. This could force manager Pochettino to abandon his back-three formation at short notice, but that is not his only concern.
Christian Pulisic concerns
Christian Pulisic is seen as a leader and a catalyst for the United States, and is revered across the country in the same way that David Beckham was idolized when he wore an England shirt. Football fans are well aware of the talent of Pulisic, who played for Borussia Dortmund before joining Chelsea.
Pulisic currently plays for AC Milan and is one of the team’s key attackers, at least until the start of 2026. Despite a strong start in Serie A with eight goals in 11 games, Pulisic has scored just two goals in 18 league games, each with an assist.
The 27-year-old hasn’t scored a goal this year, overcoming the worst goal drought of his professional career. To make matters worse, he hasn’t scored for his country since 2024.
Christian Pulisic hasn’t scored for AC Milan since last year, and his last goal for the United States was in 2024 (Image: 2026 Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos)
Pulisic controversially missed the Gold Cup last year, prompting fierce backlash from US legends Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. The United States lost to arch-rival Mexico in the final, and Pulisic’s absence tarnished its image.
For the United States to be successful at the World Cup, it will be essential for Pulisic to be the focal point of the attack. Pulisic scored the only goal of the World Cup in a 1-0 win against Iran four years ago, but he will need to do more this summer to win fans back to his side.
Pochettino’s bold expectations
No one expects the United States to win the World Cup, not even Pochettino, who has sought inspiration from South Korea and Morocco. Both sides made surprise semi-final appearances in 2002 and 2026 respectively, and Pochettino believes that should be the goal.
Pochettino said: “It’s all a matter of belief. Look at Qatar, Morocco. It’s all a matter of belief. Or Japan, South Korea. I think there are many examples.”
Pochettino also revealed that during the FIFA World Cup draw, President Trump asked him if the United States had a chance of winning. “Of course,” the head coach said, but has yet to confirm whether there is any real belief behind that statement.
Mauricio Pochettino hinted that the USMNT should aim for a dream semi-final spot (Image: 2026 John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF)
If the U.S. wins in the group stage, it could face Senegal or Norway, but the other third-place team could also play. A second place finish could lead to a showdown with either Egypt or Belgium, with Belgium likely hoping to avoid the latter.
The United States has set competitive friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in March as a test run for the possibility of a high-profile knockout tie that has plagued them for decades. However, humiliating Belgium 5-2 and losing 2-0 to Portugal was more encouraging, but the difference in quality was huge.
Notable players from the host country’s national team
Of course, Pulisic will be one of the key players to watch, but the United States also has several well-known stars across Europe, all of whom play valuable roles within the team.
Tyler Adams – A key part of Premier League side AFC Bournemouth’s midfield, Adams is a key piece of the puzzle for Pochettino. Tasked with forcing turnovers and always looking to play the ball up front in the heart of midfield, Adams also brings a calm, physical presence in key positions.
Weston McKennie – McKennie has become an important player for Juventus in recent months and is on the verge of overtaking Pulisic as one of the most talented players in the United States. He often plays in midfield or out wide, but his versatility also allows him to play as a full-back or central striker.
Folarin Balogun – After leaving Arsenal in 2023, Balogun has become one of France’s most prolific strikers, scoring 13 goals in Ligue 1 this season. Balogun also scored five goals in the Champions League and is in great form going into the World Cup.
injury crisis
The United States will be without star midfielder Johnny Cardoso at the World Cup after he was injured in both of Atlético Madrid’s Champions League semi-final games against Arsenal. Cardoso has undergone surgery and will miss the World Cup.
Cardoso was seen as an ideal partner for Adams in midfield, but Pochettino will be forced to change his plans ahead of the World Cup. Although not a regular starter, substitute striker Patrick Agyemang also suffered a devastating injury towards the end of Derby County’s season.
Agyemang is a strong and powerful forward who can also play wide, offering a different threat to fellow American forwards Balogun and Ricardo Pepi. Manager Pochettino called up Agyeman during the last international break and he scored in the 5-2 defeat against Belgium, but a ruptured Achilles tendon will keep him out until 2027.
Patrick Agyeman to miss World Cup (Image: News Images/NurPhoto)
The end of the Premier League season has also raised concerns about Chris Richards and Brendon Aaronson. Richards injured his ankle in the 2-2 draw with Brentford while playing for Crystal Palace, and has been dealing with lingering issues this season.
Aaronson is also a cause for concern, although he is expected to be fit for the World Cup. Both players were included in Pochettino’s 26-man squad.
Is it too much pressure?
The United States won the 2026 World Cup in 2018, but the country has invested heavily in soccer over the past decade, all leading up to this moment. The pressure to host the tournament is already overwhelming, but FIFA is not helping the United States ahead of the World Cup.
Exorbitant ticket prices and soaring public transport costs have sparked a nationwide backlash, further heightening expectations. It would be a shame for the fans if the USA lost in the group game, but since they have to pay thousands of dollars for a ticket, they can’t afford anything but success.
Americans will have high hopes for the USMNT at the World Cup (Image: 2025 Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF)
While the United States is a passionate sports nation, fans have been labeled as “bandwagon” supporters of non-mainstream sports. American football, basketball, baseball, and hockey attract passionate people, but interest in football is always at its highest when the United States is doing well.
An early withdrawal from the tournament could be a catastrophe across the country, causing millions of people to lose interest and leaving only hardcore soccer fans invested. With a population of 340 million and Trump expected to attend several games, the spotlight will truly be on the host country.
Manager Pochettino must ensure that team facilities are isolated from outside noise, and players have a responsibility to represent the Stars and Stripes to the best of their ability. It’s not just the pressure to perform this summer. There are hopes that the World Cup performance could spark a soccer revolution.
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