Pochettino urges belief in US World Cup dream

With home advantage, a favorable group draw, and a squad widely regarded as part of the United States’ emerging “golden generation,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino is urging fans to believe in an ambitious World Cup campaign, asking the bold question: “Why not us?”

Although the United States has traditionally been considered a modest force in global football, the sport has grown rapidly since the country last hosted the tournament in 1994. Co-hosts for the upcoming edition are now seen as genuine competitors rather than mere participants.

A new wave of American talent is making its mark across Europe’s top leagues. Players such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are key figures at AC Milan and Juventus in Serie A, while captain Tyler Adams plays an important role at Premier League side Bournemouth.

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Pochettino, who took charge in late 2024 after coaching clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, has repeatedly emphasized belief within the squad. He insists the team must adopt a fearless mindset ahead of the tournament.

Despite this optimism, expectations remain tempered. The US is not ranked among the tournament favorites like France, Spain, or Argentina, and faces a challenging path in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey.

Recent results have exposed inconsistencies, including a heavy defeat to Belgium and a loss to Portugal, highlighting the gap between the United States and the world’s elite. Concerns have also been raised about the form of key forward Christian Pulisic, who has struggled for goals in recent months.

Still, the team’s progress is undeniable. The United States reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup and continues to build on a young, evolving squad with growing European experience.

Pochettino has been experimenting with different formations and player combinations as he finalizes his squad. The roster is expected to feature a mix of established European-based stars, dual-national players such as Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, and Malik Tillman, as well as domestic Major League Soccer talent.

Weston McKennie remains a central figure in the setup, with Pochettino even joking about his importance to Juventus’s midfield structure.

Historically, the US has shown gradual progress in world football, with its best modern-era performance coming in 2002 when it reached the quarter-finals. Reaching the last eight again is widely seen as the minimum target for the upcoming campaign.

Despite the challenges, Pochettino remains optimistic, stressing that ambition and belief are essential: “Dreams inspire reality.”