The United States men's national football team is preparing for the World Cup with an unprecedented level of expectation, as their role as co-hosts in 2026 places their performance under intense scrutiny. Unlike many nations, the US are not just playing for immediate glory, but for the long-term future and prominence of football within a sporting landscape heavily dominated by baseball, basketball, and American football.
Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentinian coach, arrived on a historic £4.7 million-per-year contract – the largest ever outlay for a coach in US Soccer history – tasked with leading the nation to a memorable finish. Over his 22 months in charge, the team's record stands at 15 wins, 10 losses, and one draw. This mixed bag of results has led to varying opinions on their prospects, with some observers suggesting a group stage exit is as likely as a deep run, similar to their Round of 16 departure in Qatar 2022. Despite this, Pochettino has consistently expressed confidence, frequently asking, “Why not?” when discussing their chances of winning the tournament.
The US finds itself in a challenging group alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. These are not considered 'pushover' opponents, and the team has previously struggled against quality sides that they would likely encounter in the knockout stages. The overarching question for the US is an uncomfortably vague one: what constitutes 'enough' for their World Cup campaign? For established footballing giants like Spain or Brazil, only winning the trophy is deemed a success, while smaller nations simply aim to perform creditably. For the US, however, the outcome will be seen as a referendum on a generation of players considered the most talented in the men's programme's history, and crucially, on the potential of American football itself.
Christian Pulisic, widely regarded as the team's biggest star, articulated the players' resolve earlier this month. “We want to do this for ourselves and for our own country,” he stated, adding, “We have really good players playing in top clubs in the world, we have a good team. We’re going to do the best we can to prove ourselves right.” The belief from both the coach and the players is evident, but the true measure of success will be whether their performance can genuinely captivate and convert the wider American public.
The sport in the US, while growing, still battles for attention against established foreign leagues like the Premier League, Mexico’s Liga MX, and the Champions League. A successful run in 2026, theoretically surpassing their modern high mark of reaching the quarter-finals in 2002, could be a catalyst. It is hoped that such a performance could unleash a torrent of attention and commercial investment, potentially solidifying a domestic football culture in the American mainstream and matching the engagement seen in other major US sports. Pochettino acknowledges the cultural challenge, noting the difference in sporting heritage between Argentina and the US, but remains optimistic about the long-term potential given the country's vast population and diverse demographics.
Source: The Guardian