The USMNT is hosting a World Cup on home soil for the first time in over three decades. You’d think that would make the vibes immaculate. Instead, there’s a growing list of tactical headaches that Mauricio Pochettino needs to solve before his squad faces Australia in their Group D opener on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The defensive problem that won’t go away
The US beat Australia 2-1 in a friendly back in October 2025. Haji Wright scored both goals. The Socceroos carried an unbeaten streak of roughly a dozen games into that friendly. They didn’t lose because the US defense locked them down. They lost because Wright had a clinical night in front of goal.
Under Pochettino, the USMNT has committed to a high-pressing, transition-oriented style. In recent friendlies, the US has conceded goals against teams sitting in low blocks and hitting on quick transitions, which is exactly the profile Australia fits.
Pochettino’s system demands that defenders win duels in space, cover for advanced fullbacks, and recover quickly when possession turns over. Australia doesn’t need to dominate possession to hurt you. They need one set piece, one long ball over the top, one moment where a center-back is caught too high up the pitch.
