The early results are in: This U.S men’s national team is for real in this World Cup. With a quick and creative offensive attack producing goals in front of stadium-shaking home crowds, the Americans have already won their group and booked their place in the knockout round. A final group stage match against Turkey in Los Angeles awaits before the pressure ramps up again.The question now is just how far can they go? The optimism and expectations of a deep run in the tournament are rising quickly. The American players seem eager to embrace what might have seemed inconceivable for a big nation with a relatively shallow pedigree in international soccer. “I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we want to win it,” U.S. defender Chris Richards said after Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia. “We want to lift a trophy by the end of this.”Few would have predicted this kind of quick success, said striker Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the opener against Paraguay.“You know, (if) someone said before the tournament ‘Two games and you’re through to the knockouts,’ I think we all would have took it,” Balogun said. “We’re delighted.”
Argentine coach leads the American resurgenceThe first two matches saw the U.S. attack Paraguay and Australia with an energy, skill and creativity on offense rarely seen by the Americans in the World Cup. The U.S. has won consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since 1930. And the six goals in the first two matches are one short of the team record for a World Cup.The architect is coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine who was best known for his European club stints with Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-German. He had never coached a national team until he was hired by the U.S. in 2024 with an eye on this year’s World Cup.
