Mauricio Pochettino will make his World Cup debut as a coach on Friday when the United States face Paraguay in their 2026 tournament opener. The US coach confirmed that all 26 players are available for selection and emphasized a relaxed approach rather than a rousing pregame speech.
Speaking on Thursday, Pochettino said he has drawn on advice from a friend who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986. "He said to me, 'in relaxation, you become concentrated and focused,'" Pochettino recalled. "I think we try to be very professional in every single aspect of our preparation by creating a very good atmosphere where the player can feel comfortable and to embrace, and not to learn, but to understand what we expect."
Learning from Tough Lessons
The USMNT's path to the tournament has included setbacks, including a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Concacaf Nations League and March friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal by a combined 7-2. Despite those results, Pochettino stressed the importance of projecting confidence to guide his players' mindset.
That mentality appears to have taken hold. Midfielder Tyler Adams noted the team's quiet confidence heading into the match. "It's special," the Bournemouth player said. "These are kind of the moments where you really need to stay present within it all, because no matter the circumstances, you're going through it with your best friends. That connection, chemistry, and bond is what has allowed us to grow over the past four years, especially since Qatar."
A New Generation of Debutants
Since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the US roster has changed significantly. Players like Alex Freeman, Matt Freese, and Sebastian Berhalter were not part of that squad but are now poised to make their World Cup debuts close to home. "Since Qatar, obviously the roster has changed," Adams said. "You get more fresh faces in, adds a little bit of a different energy and vibe. But the connection hasn't wavered, and that's the most important thing."
Team cohesion was on display Wednesday night when US Soccer posted video of players reacting to the New York Knicks' record comeback over the San Antonio Spurs. Adams, a lifelong Knicks fan, playfully called out teammates Haji Wright (a Lakers fan) and Brenden Aaronson (a Sixers fan). "He's a Sixers fan, he can't say anything," Adams joked.
No Need for Hollywood Speeches
Pochettino said he does not feel the need for an inspirational pregame talk. "I think now they don't need an external motivation or inspirational speech," he explained. "If you know the mindset of the player, they need to get to their best. They need motivation and speech and inspiration when they go to train and improve in every single area. Tomorrow is late."
Following Mexico's 2-0 win in Group A, the US aim to start with similar quality. Defender Chris Richards set a goal to be "the top dog" in Group D, while Adams said he's "definitely not thinking about third place." Pochettino has already chosen his starting lineup but kept it private to prevent leaks. "If I tell you they know, you are going to start to call them," he said with a laugh.
"The most important thing is not to be disconnected with your emotional relationship with the game," Pochettino added. "They need to think tomorrow and play like they are a child – with no pressure, with no responsibility. It's to play, doing what they need to do and what they know to do."
US v Paraguay kicks off at 9pm ET Friday in Los Angeles.
