Over a year ago, Mauricio Pochettino, freshly appointed as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, made a bold promise. At his very first press conference, he refused to place limits on what the Americans could achieve at the upcoming 48-team 2026 World Cup.
"We need to believe that we can win the World Cup," said the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham Hotspur manager.
On Friday, following the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., Pochettino reinforced that ambitious message. The U.S. learned two of its group stage opponents: Paraguay and Australia. Their final group match will be against a European team from a pool including Türkiye, Kosovo, Romania, or Slovakia. Regardless of the draw’s outcome, Pochettino’s players are fully embracing his vision.
Belief is the Foundation for Success
Veteran defender Tim Ream spoke candidly after the draw: "We all want to win the World Cup. You don’t play the tournament just to be there." Midfielder Tyler Adams, who captained the U.S. to the round of 16 in Qatar 2022, echoed that sentiment: "Our idea is to win. That’s the goal."
Historically, only eight nations have lifted soccer’s most coveted trophy. Yet, as Pochettino reminds his squad, seemingly impossible achievements are within reach. Legendary examples like Leicester City’s Premier League triumph and Greece’s 2004 European Championship victory prove that miracles can happen.
Pochettino has made belief central to the team’s culture. At U.S. Soccer’s summit in New York, he shared how the 2004 movie “Miracle”, depicting the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s stunning 1980 win over the Soviet Union, inspired him. "Do the impossible" is now both the players’ internal mantra and a marketing slogan, symbolizing the team’s ambitious approach.
The Group Stage: A Strategic Advantage
The U.S. benefits from being a seeded team as a co-host, avoiding powerhouse opponents like England, Germany, or Portugal. Their first two opponents, Paraguay and Australia, are teams the U.S. has already beaten in recent friendlies, while their European counterpart will be determined in March.
Pochettino stresses preparation and focus. "Our first game is the final of the World Cup, the second is the final, and the third is the final," he said. "That mindset is what we want to build."
Key players, including Christian Pulisic, understand the importance of starting strong. "Getting three points right off the bat would be an amazing start and put us in a great position in the group," he said. Tyler Adams added, "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re going to enjoy it and give it everything we have."
Dreaming Big While Staying Grounded
For Pochettino, this challenge is deeply personal. He once dreamed of representing Argentina on the world stage, only to experience group-stage elimination in 2002. That experience led to a period of deep depression, shaping his coaching philosophy: never leave success to chance.
The U.S. squad will now scout not only Paraguay and Australia but also the potential European teams. Yet, their focus remains on the immediate challenge: the June 12 opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles. As Pochettino puts it, "The most important thing is to keep improving. That is the objective."
Despite the odds, the Americans are ready to dream big, play with intensity, and savor every moment of hosting a World Cup on home soil. "It’s what we dreamed of as kids," Adams said. "When it gets down to it, we’re going to be ready to fight and give it everything we have."
